Troublesome alkoxythiophenes-mesomorphic behavior and highly efficient synthesis

The synthesis of a novel ferroelectric alkoxythiophene-containing liquid cr ystal is described together with the mesophase morphology of the material. The alkoxythiophene unit is introduced by a highly efficient ring closure o f an appropriate gamma -ketoester using Lawesson's reagent as the sulfurati ng agent. Our new cyclization methodology represents the most efficient syn thetic pathway for the synthesis of this unit.