S.‐l. Wu, F. Huang, B. Uang
May 1, 1995
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Influential Citations
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Journal
Liquid Crystals
Abstract
Abstract A new optically active (R)-3-ethylmercapto-2-methylpropionic acid has been synthesized using D(-)—2,10-camphorsultam as a chiral auxiliary. The optical purity of the acid obtained was greater than 98 per cent. Its derivatives, (R)-4-(3-ethylmercapto-2-methylpropionyl)phenyl 4′-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylates (EMMPPmBC; m = 7–16), have been prepared for the investigation of liquid crystalline properties as a function of peripheral alkyl chain length. Optical studies showed that all members exhibited an antiferroelectric S∗cA phase. The results also indicate that a lengthened alkyl chain length is favoured for ScA ∗ phase formation.