Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of Novel Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals with a Trifluoromethyl Group at the Chiral Center

A variety of ferroelectric liquid crystals with a trifluoromethyl group at the chiral center were newly synthesized utilizing optically active 3-trifluoromethylalkanoic acids prepared by optical resolution procedures. Some homologous compounds having a various length of the alkyl chain or the kind of the spacer group between the core and the chiral center were synthesized and their physical properties, particularly concerning phase behavior, spontaneous polarization, optic tilt angle and response time were evaluated. Most of these compounds exhibited chiral smectic C phase in a wide temperature range including room temperature and were found to possess a large spontaneous polarization value.