Ferroelectric and Antiferroelectric Behavior in Chiral Bent-shaped Molecules with an Asymmetric Central Naphthalene Core

A new series of chiral bent-shaped liquid crystals with an asymmetric central core based on 1,6- dihydroxynaphthalene and chiral terminal chain prepared from (S)-(?)-2-methyl-1-butanol, 1,6-naphthalene bis[4-(4-alkoxyphenyliminomethyl)]benzoates [N(1,6)-n-O-PIMB(n-2)*-(n-4)O (n = 8-11)] were synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties and phase structures were investigated by means of electro-optical, polarization reversal current, and second harmonic generation measurements in order to confirm the relationship between the molecular structure and phase structure. All odd n (n = 9 and 11) compounds, N(1,6)-9-O-PIMB7*-5O and N(1,6)-11-O-PIMB9*-7O exhibit antiferroelectric phase, whereas even n (n = 8 and 10) compounds was flexible, N(1,6)-10-O-PIMB8*-6O exhibits the ferroelectric phase but N(1,6)-8-O-PIMB6*-4O exhibits the antiferroelectric phase. These results come from the decrease of the closed packing efficiency within a layer and the lack of uniform interlayer interaction between adjacent layers, which were caused by the asymmetrical naphthalene central core. Thus, we concluded that the structure of central core as well as the terminal chain plays an important role for the emergence of particular polar ordering in phase structures.