Highly titled antiferroelectric (R) enantiomers useful for the formulation of eutectic mixtures.

Novel chiral three-ring (R) enantiomers were synthesised using optically active (R)-(−)-2-octanol. Properties, such as the sequence of phases, the transition temperatures and enthalpies, were tested by a polarising optical microscope and differential scanning calorimeter. An antiferroelectric smectic phase (SmCA*) with a direct transition from the antiferroelectric to the isotropic phase (SmCA*-Iso) was observed for three esters with an achiral C3F7CH2O(CH2)3O– terminal chain. Bi- and multicomponent mixtures with a broad temperature range of the antiferroelectric phase and good electro-optical properties were formulated. Helical pitch of pure esters and mixtures was measured by spectrophotometry method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]