Phase transitions of new antiferroelectric thiobenzoate†

†This article is dedicated to Prof. Dr Jerzy A. Janik on his 80th birthday.

Abstract

This article reports on the phase sequences in a new chiral liquid crystalline compound, a member of the thioester series, (S)-(+)-4-[(4-{[1-methyl]heptylcarboxyl}phenyl)-carbonylthio]phenyl-4′-decyloxy-1-benzencarboxylate, referred to as 10.OPOSMH, which has been recently synthesized. 10.OPOSMH exhibits ferro- and antiferroelectric behaviour. This compound contains three benzene rings connected with the ester and thioester central groups. The 10.OPOSMH molecule is terminated with the achiral n-decyloxy and chiral (S)-(+)-1-methylheptyl carboxylate terminal chains, where the chiral group is in para position with respect to the thioester group. This mesogen assumes the existence of antiferroelectric smectic C () and ferroelectric smectic C () phases and also the smectic chiral subphases: , and , both on heating and cooling.

†This article is dedicated to Prof. Dr Jerzy A. Janik on his 80th birthday.

Keywords:

• Antiferroelectric liquid crystals
• Synthesis
• Phase transitions

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Prof. Jan Przedmojski (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland) for X-ray measurements and Dr Wojciech Zając (IFJ Kraków, Poland) for his assistance while preparing the manuscript.

Notes

†This article is dedicated to Prof. Dr Jerzy A. Janik on his 80th birthday.