Two new families of chiral monomers were synthesized which consisted of a spaced biphenyl core and a 2,3-disubstituted or 2,2-disubstituted oxirane ring. The former monomers formed liquid crystal mesophases, whereas the latter monomers did not generate any mesophases independent of the spacer lengths investigated. The mesogenic propensity was enhanced in chiral liquid crystals based on the biphenyl benzoate core and either oxirane ring. A linear electro-optic response was detected in the chiral nematic phase and was attributed to the flexoelectric effect.
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