Smectic liquid crystals. VIII. Some new laterally substituted smectic C compounds

Abstract

The synthesis and liquid crystal transition temperatures of a new class of compounds incorporating a trans-1,4-disubstituted cyclohexane ring have recently been reported. Many of these novel materials exhibit an enantiotropic smectic C mesophase over a wide temperature range and are suitable for commercial display device applications. The influence of several lateral substituents in various positions on the liquid crystal transition temperatures of these compounds has now been investigated systematically. A linear relationship between the size of the lateral substituent and the magnitude of the transition temperatures of various liquid crystal mesophases has been established for several of the series synthesized. A number of series incorporating a lateral substituent and an optically active centre have also been prepared and similar effects have been found.