Abstract

A new series of achiral banana-shaped compounds (“S_n”) has been synthesised and studied by the classical techniques (optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electro-optic investigations). The short homologues (S₆,S₇) present an intercalated smectic B6 and a two-dimensional B1 phase. The intermediate S₈–S₁₀ compounds only form a B1 phase while the mesophase of long homologues (S₁₁–S₁₆) is identified as a switchable smectic B2 mesophase.