Abstract: Disclosed are smetic liquid crystal compounds exhibiting ferroelectric behavior and having the formulaR.sup.1 --OR.sup.2).sub.a O--R.sup.3).sub.b Z--R*wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkoxyalkyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each alkylene, a is an integer of at least one, b is zero or one, R* is an optically active group containing an asymmetric center and --Z-- is an organic divalent core radical having parallel or coaxially extending bonds at the terminal ends thereof, the core radical having an axial ratio of at least two and being characterized by an essentially rigid and flat molecular structure. Presence of the ether-interrupted hydrocarbon tail moiety at the terminal end of the compounds provides a lowering in observed temperatures of phase transition.