Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

Hans-Jurgen Fromm

Martin Schadt

Richard Buchecker

Stephen Kelly

Alois Villiger

Arthur Boller

A ferroelectric liquid crystalline mixture containing at least one optically active compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1 denotes a single covalent bond, --COO--, --OOC--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 O--; one of rings A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 represents trans-m-dioxan-2,5-diyl and the other two of rings A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 each independently represent unsubstituted 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-phenylene substituted with cyano, halogen or lower alkyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently signify an optionally halogen-substituted alkyl group with up to 18 carbon atoms in which optionally 1 CH.sub.2 group or 2 non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups is/are replaced by --O--, --CO--, --COO-- and/or --OOC--, as well as novel compounds falling under formula I and ferroelectric electrode-optical indicating devices including same.

Ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures and compounds as well as

Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein m represents is the number of 0 to 1; A is a single convalent bond, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 --, --COO-- or --OOC--; rings B, C and D are 1,4-phenylene optionally substituted with cyano, halogen or lower alkyl; Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are hydrogen or one of them also is cyano; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyl, either of which is optionally halogen-substituted, in which one CH.sub.2 group or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups is/are optionally replaced by oxygen: with the provisos that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 has a chiral carbon atom or R.sup.1 is straight-chain C.sub.4-18 -alkoxy and R.sup.2 is straight C.sub.3-18 -alkyl or a C--C double bond or both when A is --COO-- and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 has a C--C double bond when A is a single covalent bond, their preparation, liquid crystalline mixtures containing these compounds and their use for electro-optical purposes are described.

Liquid crystalline esters

A ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture containing at least one compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein n stands for the number 0 or 1; X.sup.1 represents a single covalent bond, --COO-- or --OOC-- and X.sup.2 represents a single covalent bond, --COO--, --OOC--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 O--; rings A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 each independently signify 1,4-phenylene optionally substituted with cyano, halogen or lower alkyl or pyrimidin-2,5-diyl, pyrazin-2,5-diyl, when n is 1, trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or trans-m-dioxan-2,5-diyl; with the proviso that one of the rings present stands for pyrimidin-2,5-diyl or pyrazin-2,5-diyl when a further ring signifies trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or when n stands for the number 0 and X.sup.1 stands for a single covalent bond; and R.sup.1 signifies an optionally halogen-substituted alkenyl group with up to 18 carbon atoms in which optionally 1 or 2 non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups are replaced by --O-- and/or a C.dbd.C double bond; with the proviso that R.sup.1 is different from 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenyloxy; R.sup.2 signifies an optionally halogen-substituted alkyl group with up to 18 carbon atoms in which optionally 1 or 2 non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups are replaced by --O-- and/or a C.dbd.C double bond; with the proviso that residues R.sup.1 and/or R.sup.2 attached to an aromatic ring have at least 2 chain atoms between the aromatic ring and a C.dbd.C double bond present; as well as novel compounds falling under formula I and novel ferroelectric liquid crystal devices employing the compounds according to the invention.

Liquid crystal compounds and indicating device employing same

Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein m represents is the number 0 or 1; A is a single covalent bond, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 --, --COO-- or --OOC--; rings B, C and D are 1,4-phenylene optionally substituted with cyano, halogen or lower alkyl; Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are hydrogen or one of them also is cyano; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyl, either of which is optionally halogen-substituted, in which one CH.sub.2 group or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups is/are optionally replaced by oxygen; with the provisos that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 has a chiral carbon atom or a C-C double bond or both when A is --COO-- and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 has a C-C double bond when A is a single covalent bond, their preparation, liquid crystalline mixtures containing these compounds and their use for electro-optical purposes are described.

Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein m represents is the number 0 or 1; A is a single covalent bond, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 --, --COO-- or --OOC--; rings B, C and D are 1,4-phenylene optionally substituted with cyano, halogen or lower alkyl; Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are hydrogen or one of them also is cyano; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyl, either of which is optionally halogen-substituted, in which one CH.sub.2 group or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups is/are optionally replaced by oxygen; with the provisos that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 has a chiral carbon atom or a C--C double bond or both when A is --COO-- and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 has a C--C double bond when A is a single covalent bond, their preparation, liquid crystalline mixtures containing these compounds and their use for electro-optical purposes are described.

Growing community of inventors

Lorrach, Germany

Hans-Jurgen Fromm