Synthesis and Some Properties of Low Melting Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals of Benzylidene Anilines

Abstract

A series of chiral benzylidene-aniline compounds, 4-alkoxybenzylidene 4′-(2-methylbutyloxycarbonyl)anilines, have been synthesized and their mesomorphic properties are examined. They showed a monotropic chiral smectic C phase in conjunction with enantiotropic smectic A phase, and their chiral smectic C—smectic A phase transition temperatures are around room temperatures. Their spontaneous polarization values are moderately higher than those of DOBAMBC “4-decyloxybenzylidene 4′-amino-(2-methylbutyl)cinnamate”.

Keywords:

• ferroelectric liquid crystal
• chiral smectic C phase
• benzylideneaniline
• mesomorphic range
• low melting