Abstract
An optically active chiral material, (S)‐1‐methyl‐2‐(2′‐methylsulphanylethoxy)ethanol was prepared by the treatment of (S)‐propylene oxide with 2‐methlylsulphanylethanol under basic conditions. Its derivatives, the (R)‐1‐methyl‐2‐(2′‐methylsulphanylethoxy)ethyl 4‐(4′‐alkoxybiphenyl‐1‐carboxyloxy)benzoates, MMSEEmCB (m = 7–12), were then prepared for investigation of their mesomorphic properties. The results show that the materials with shorter alkyl chains (m = 7–9) favour the formation of the antiferroelectric phase, while materials with longer alkyl chains (m = 10–12) favour the formation of the ferroelectric SmC* phase. Switching current behaviour, electro‐optical response, dielectric constant, spontaneous polarization and apparent tilt angle for the materials in the SmC* and
phases were studied.