Liquid crystal compounds having a chiral fluorinated terminal portion

Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds that have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and that are represented by the general formula (I):

• ##STR53## where M, N, and P are each independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR54## a, b, and c are each independently zero or an integer of from 1 to 3, with the proviso that the sum of a+b+c be at least 1;
• each A and B are non-directionally and independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond,
• --C(.dbd.O)--O--, --C(.dbd.O)--S--, --C(.dbd.O)--Se--,
• --C(.dbd.O)--Te--, --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.k
• where
• K is 1 to 4,
• --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.tbd.C--, --CH.dbd.N--, --CH.sub.2 --O--, --C(.dbd.O)--, and --O--;
• each X, Y, and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --Cl, --F, --Br, --I, --OH, --OCH.sub.3, --CH.sub.3, --CF.sub.3, --OCF.sub.3, --CN, and --NO.sub.2 ;
• each l, m, and n are independently zero or an integer of 1 to 4;
• D is non-directionally selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond, ##STR55## and combinations thereof, where r and r' are independently integers of 0 to about 20, s is independently an integer of 1 to about 10 for each (C.sub.s H.sub.2s O), t is an integer of 1 to about 6, and p is an integer of 0 to about 4;
• R is selected from the group consisting of
• --O--((C.sub.q' H.sub.2q'-v' --(R').sub.v')--O).sub.w --C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1-v --(R').sub.v,
• --((C.sub.q' H.sub.2q'-v' --(R').sub.v')--O).sub.w --C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1-v --(R').sub.v,
• --C(.dbd.O)--O--C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1-v --(R').sub.v,
• --O--(O.dbd.)C--C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1-v --(R').sub.v, ##STR56## where each R' is independently selected from the group consisting of --Cl, --F, --CF.sub.3, --NO.sub.2, --CN, --H, --C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1, --O--(O.dbd.)C--C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1, --C(.dbd.O)--O--C.sub.q H.sub.2q+1, --Br, --OH, and --OC.sub.q H.sub.2q+1 ;
• q' is independently an integer of 1 to about 20 for each (C.sub.q H.sub.2q' --O);
• q is an integer of 1 to about 20;
• w is an integer of 0 to about 10;
• v is an integer of 0 to about 6;
• each v' is independently an integer of 0 to about 6;
• g is an integer of 1 to about 3;
• each D is independently and non-directionally selected from the group set forth for D above, with the proviso that the ring containing D has from about 3 to about 10 ring atoms;
• each W is independently selected from the group consisting of N, CR', and SiR';
• and R is chiral or achiral;
• and
• R.sub.f ' is --R*--D--(O).sub.x --CH.sub.2 --D'--R.sub.f, where R* is a cyclic or acyclic chiral moiety selected from the group consisting of
• --O--((C.sub.q' H.sub.2q'-v' --(R').sub.v')--O).sub.w --C.sub.q H.sub.2q-v --(R').sub.v --,
• --((C.sub.q' H.sub.2q'-v' --(R').sub.v')--O).sub.w --C.sub.q H.sub.2q-v --(R').sub.v --,
• --C(.dbd.O)--O--C.sub.q H.sub.2q-v --(R').sub.v --,
• --O--(O.dbd.)C--C.sub.q H.sub.2q-v --(R').sub.v --, ##STR57## where each R' is --F;
• q' is independently an integer of 1 to about 20 for each (C.sub.q' H.sub.2q' --O);
• q is an integer of 1 to about 20;
• w is an integer of 0 to about 10;
• v is an integer of 1 to about 3;
• each v' is independently an integer of 0 to about 6;
• g is an integer of 1 to about 3;
• each D is independently and non-directionally selected from the group set forth for D above, with the proviso that the ring containing D has from about 3 to about 10 ring atoms;
• each W is independently selected from the group consisting of N and CH;
• and with the proviso that R* is chiral;
• D and D' are each independently and non-directionally selected from the group set forth for D above;
• x is an integer of 0 or 1;
• and R.sub.f is fluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkyl, fluoroether, or perfluoroether.