Abstract

The synthesis of a novel bent-shaped, four-ring thiophene-based chiral liquid crystalline ester derived from 5-(4-n-decyloxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid and (S)-1-methylheptyl 4′-hydroxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate is reported, i.e., (S)-4′-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)biphenyl-4-yl 5-(4-n-decyloxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. Optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, miscibility study, and complementary electro-optical and current response studies reveal the existence of the SmA*, SmC*ferroelectric, SmC*ferrielectric, SmC*antiferroelectric and SmI*antiferroelectric phase types. Another mesophase type possibly exists below SmI*antiferroelectric which generates a rapid electro-optic response. Comparison with the analogous three-ring compound, i.e., (S)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 5-(4-n-decyloxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate increases the thermal stability by 95.8 °C and the SmI*antiferroelectric phase is observed in addition.