Abstract
Two new chiral series, with benzoate cores and monofluoro-substitution in positions 2 and 3 of the first phenyl ring near the chiral chain, have been synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic properties have been analysed by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and electro-optical measurements. The first series (I
c
) displays a very rich polymorphism including SmA, SmC*
α
, SmC*, SmC*
FI
, SmC*
A
phases, whereas the second (I
b
) does not exhibit the SmC*
A
phase, and moreover only displays the SmA phase for short alkoxy chains. The effect of the position of the fluoro substituent and the influence of the alkoxy chain length on the mesomorphic behaviour are discussed.