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Odd-Even Effects In Bent-Core Compounds Containing Terminal N-Alkyl Carboxylate Groups, S. Umadevi, Antal Jakli, B. Sadashiva

Antal Jakli

A homologous series of eleven five-ring symmetrical bent-core compounds containing terminal n-alkyl carboxylate groups were synthesized, characterized and their dielectric and electro-optical properties have been investigated. The lower homologues (n = 6-11) of the series show B-2 structures with an interesting odd-even effect concerning their local director tilt and polar arrangements. This odd-even effect probably is due to steric (entropic) reasons, which are not suppressed by the relatively low polar interaction. Three of the middle homologues display a B-7' phase, which is bistable and shows linear electro-optical switching with a transition to the chiral antiferroelectric smectic phase at a lower …