Synthesis, Mesomorphic Properties and Physical Measurements of a Series of Fluorinated Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystals

We report the synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a series of fluorinated antiferroelectric liquid crystalline materials. The materials form the homologous series of “12F1M7”[1] and were derived from (R)-2-octanol. The physical properties (tilt angles and spontaneous polarisation at 20Hz and 50Hz) were measured and compared with those of the related compounds (S)-12F1M7 and (S)-MHPOBC. The effect of varying the unbranched terminal chain from 8 [(S)-8F1M7] to 12 on the mesomorphic and physical properties is discussed.