Table 2: Transition temperatures (in °C) of chiral ester smectogens (S)-(−)-2-methylbutyl 4′-(4″--alkanoyloxybenzoyloxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylates.

Compounds Present method Literature [10] Heating: Cr 62 SmC* 112 SmA 153 I Cr 64 SmC* 112.4 SmA 153.2 I   Cooling: I 152.5 SmA 101.5 SmC* 60 Cr2 51 Cr1 I 152.8 SmA 102.4 SmC* 60.7 Cr2 152.4 Cr1 Heating: Cr 74.6 SmC* 113 SmA 152 I Cr 73.3 SmC* 112 SmA 152.4 I   Cooling: I 150.1 SmA 103 SmC* 63 Cr2 60 Cr1 I 151.8 SmA 104.5 SmC* 68.5 Cr2 62.7 Cr1