A synthetic pathway is described for the preparation of the homologous series of (R)-(2-chloropropyl)-4-[4’-(n-alkoxy)benzoyloxy] benzoates with high optical purity. The liquid crystalline members of the series exhibit smectic A* phase and can be used as chiral dopants in ferroelectric mixtures. The n=8 member was used in a mixture exhibiting monotropic and the n=9 member enantiotropic smectic C* phase around room temperature.