Multichiral liquid crystals based on terphenyl core laterally substituted by chlorine atom

•Lactates as prosperous source of chirality in design of liquid crystals.•New antiferroelectric liquid crystals.•Ferro- and antiferroelectricity in a broad range of temperatures.•Terphenyl derivatives showing orthoconic properties. We designed a new type of antiferroelectric liquid crystalline structure with versatile properties. For this purpose, we modified the previously studied liquid crystalline compounds based on terphenyl molecular core laterally substituted with a chlorine atom. Two lactate units were attached to the chiral chain with the aim to support antiferroelectric structures. We studied the mesomorphic properties of new compounds by means of texture observations under a polarised light microscope, by dielectric spectroscopy and electro-optical measurements. To confirm the phase identification, x-ray measurements were performed. We found that the studied compounds revealed a SmA*-SmC* phase sequence in a broad temperature range. We proved an antiferroelectric phase with orthoconic properties for selected structural modifications. Such valuable optical properties with the tilt angle about 45° promise a big potential for applications.