The synthesis of the new chiral monomer 4-(10-undecylen-1-yloxy)biphenyl-4'-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]benzoate (M-1), the nematic crosslinking agent biphenyl 4,4'-bis(10-undecylen-1-yloxybenzoate) (M-2), and the corresponding liquid-crystalline elastomer is described. The chemical structures of the chiral monomer and crosslinking agent have been characterized with Fourier transform infrared, elemental analyses, and proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The mesomorphic properties have been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Monomer M-1 shows different smectic phases (smectic A, chiral smectic C, and smectic B) and a cholesteric phase, and M, exhibits a nematic phase. The liquid-crystalline elastomer shows smectic A and chiral smectic C phases. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.