Abstract
New ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds having an optically active alkanoyl group on one side and a chiral group derived from lactic acid on the other side of the core are synthesized. They exhibit very large spontaneous polarization of more than 3 m C/m2 at Tc-10°C, when the signs of the spontaneous polarization due to the two chiral groups are the same. In particular, the compounds with a hydroxyl group in the core at the ortho position to the alkanoyl group show the maximum value of 11. 3 mC/m2.