Smectic Phases Observed in 1, 1,2,2,-tetrahydroperfluoroalkyl-4-nitrobenzoates

On studying the thermal behaviour of a series of 1,1,2,2-tetrahydro-perfluoroalkyl 4-nitrobenzoates it was found that the decyl and dodecyl compounds showed smectic mesophases. This illustrates that a polar substituent in the 3-position of the aromatic ring for 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluoroalkylbenzoates is not a requirement for thermotropic behaviour.