A solution of 7.6 g of 4-methoxyphenyl borate dissolved in 60 ml of ethanol was dropped at room temperature into a mixture containing 13 g of 4-bromo-2-fluoro-4'-cyanobiphenyl, 0.5 g of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium, 90 ml benzene and 70 ml of a 2M potassium carbonate aqueous solution. This was then refluxed for five hours and cooled to room temperature, the reaction liquid was extracted with chloroform and washed three times with water, and the chloroform was removed. The residue that was obtained underwent vacuum distillation, and then was recrystallized from acetone to yield 6.6 g of 4-methoxy-3'-fluoro-4"-cyanoterphenyl. This compound exhibited a nematic liquid crystal phase, with a C-N point of 126° C. and an N-I point of 247.3° C.
