Synthesis and Characterization of a Series of High Polarization Difluorinated Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Dopants

Two series of difluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystal dopants were synthesized by our researchers. The first series, dubbed the difluoroalkoxy series, had spontaneous polarizations of up to 300 nC/cm(2). The second series, dubbed the difluorodialkoxy series, was more versatile and contained compounds with polarizations of over 400 nC/cm(2). The proton, fluorine, and carbon NMRs of these compounds were interpreted to determine the regio- and stereochemistry.