Synthesis and properties of fluoro-substituted ferroelectric liquid crystals having a 2-(biphenyl-4′-yl)-1,3-dioxane mesogenic core

Ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) showing a short response time have been investigated with respect to their application for high resolution graphic displays addressed by thin film transistors. It is found that the introduction of fluoro substituents in the molecule at a suitable position such as the core and the asymmetric tail allowed the compounds to have a short response time. Here, in order to obtain further information about the fluorination effect onthestructure, a new series of ferroelectric liquid crystals having a 2-(biphenyl-4'-y)-1,3-dioxanyl group as the core has been synthesised. Their mesomorphic and physical properties have been measured, and the correlation between the structures and the properties is discussed.