Mesomorphic and structural properties of liquid crystal possessing a chiral lactate unit

► The physical properties of a chiral liquid crystal have been studied. ► The compound shows a blue phase, cholesteric (N*), TGBA and SmA* phases. ► From X-ray scattering, long range ordering is observed at N*-TGBA phase transition. ► Strong SmA* fluctuations are observed at the TGBA-SmA* phase boundary. ► The contribution of soft mode in paraelectric SmA* phase could only be detected.