Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Containing the Chiral Oxirane Carboxylic Ester Unit Positioned Terminally to or Inside of the Mesogenic Part

Abstract
The synthesis, phase behaviour, spontaneous polarization and response times of a new class of chiral LCs of general structure 6, 7, possessing a (2R, 3S)-2-oxirane carboxylic acid unit connected with mesogenic building blocks are described. Several of the new compounds exhibit ferroelectric LC phases (Sc*). First examples of ferroelectric LCs having the chriral unit incorporated in the mesogenic moiety are described. They show better mesomorphic properties (broader Sc*-phases) compared with analogous compounds bearing the chiral unit terminally. Some of the new compounds are useful as dopants to induce ferroelectric properties in LCs possessing Sc-phases. The ester group adjacent to the oxirane ring increases the chemical stability of the three membered ring system.