1,3-propandiol bis (4-(4-alkyloxy-benzylideneamino)benzoates - A new series of mesogenic dimers

A new homologous series of mesogenic dimers with an odd-numbered flexible s pacer is presented. It is shown that the short-chained members of the serie s form a SmC phase, only whereas the longer-chained homologues exhibit a Sm A phase. The layer spacing of the SmC phase was found to be about the half of the molecular length. This result and the occurrence of singularities wi th s = 1/2 or s = 3/2 in the schlieren texture point to an intercalated str ucture. The electro-optical switching of the SmC phase can be attributed to a dielectric transition.