SYNTHESIS AND SMC-ASTERISK PROPERTIES OF CHIRAL LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE TEREPHTHALATES

Chiral ester derivatives of terephthalic acid containing one, three, o r five phenyl rings were prepared by using (S)-2-methylbutanol or (R)- 2-chloropropanol as starting materials. The one-ring terephthalates di d not exhibit any liquid crystalline phases, but one of them was used as a chiral dopant in ferroelectric mixtures. Elongation of the aromat ic core structure to three and five phenyl rings stabilized the SmA ph ase, whereas a (monotropic) SmC phase was detected in some three-ring and five-ring derivatives. In ferroelectric mixtures based on the ter ephthalates, spontaneous polarizations up to 340 nC cm(-2) were measur ed.