Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of New Achiral Liquid Crystals with 3-Alkoxy-2-(alkoxymethyl)-1-propoxy Swallow-Tails

Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of New Achiral Liquid Crystals with 3-Alkoxy-2-(alkoxymethyl)-1-propoxy Swallow-Tails

New liquid crystalline (biphenylcarbonyloxy)benzoates with an achiral swallow-tail derived from 3-alkoxy-2- (alkoxymethyl)-1-propanol [(ROCH2)2CHCH2OH, R = Me, Et, Pr, Bu] were prepared. These liquid crystals exhibited the phase sequence (I-SmA-SmCalt-(SmCX)-Cr) and showed antiferroelectric-like Smectic C phase (SmCalt) at temperature lower, and temperature range broader than do the compounds containing a branched alkyl group as a swallow-tail. The temperature ranges of antiferroelectric phase were found to be 30-90 oC and crystallization temperatures were 4-60 oC. The binary mixture of an achiral swallow-tailed liquid crystal and a chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal, (S)-MHPOBC showed antiferroelectric smectic C phase at temperature much lower than the single chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal does.