Three homologous series of semi-perfluorinated liquid crystals: 4-(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyloxycarbonyl)phenyl, 4-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl and 44 3, 3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4-[(n-perfluoroalkyl)alkyloxy] benzoates have been synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties were studied by DSC, microscopic observation and X-ray diffraction. Their layer spacings are smaller than the molecular length (L). The ratio dsAjL is about 0.7. The crystal structure of two derivatives of the first family have also been investigated. In both structures the molecules pack in smectic C-like sheets where neighbouring molecules are antiparallel, interacting through dipolar and van der Waals forces. The interactions between contiguous sheets, through the ends of perfluorinated chains are very weak. The X-ray diffraction results on the mesophases and on the crystalline structures of two compounds of the first family are compared. From this, we propose a model of the smectic phases with a zig-zag structure.

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