Synthesis, mesomorphic properties and physical measurements of a series offluorinated antiferroelectric liquid crystals

We report the synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a series of fluorinat ed antiferroelectric liquid crystalline materials. The materials form the h omologous series of "12F1M7"([1]) and were derived from (R)-2-octanol. The physical properties (tilt angles and spontaneous polarisation at 20Hz and 5 0Hz) were measured and compared with those of the related compounds (S)-12F 1M7 and (S)-MHPOBC. The effect of varying the unbranched terminal chain fro m 8 [(S)-8F1M7] to 12 on the mesomorphic and physical properties is discuss ed.