SYNTHESIS AND MESOMORPHIC PROPERTIES OF FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS BEARING 2-PHENYL-1,3,4-THIADIAZOLE RINGS

Sixteen homologs of chiral 2-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties were evaluated with a DSC and a polarizing microscope. All compounds studied possessed an alkyl or alkoxy side chain at the p,p' position of the 2-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole core and an optically active carbon atom at one of the terminal chains. We found that compounds in these series show a strong tendency to generate chiral smectic C (Sc+) phases. We also measured some compounds for their spontaneous polarizations (Ps) and switching times (tau) and found that the switching times were relatively fast, though the spontaneous polarizations were very small.