Abstract: A diamine compound is proposed as well as polymers, copolymers, polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters, or polyimides based on such compound. The compound is represented by one of the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib). It could be shown that such structures, in particular for a specific choice of the residue B, provide, if e.g. used as orientation layers, a photostable, vertically aligning material with an improved VHR.

Abstract: A photoactive side-chain polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof, comprising as a side-chain a dendritic block incorporating photoactive groups at its surface. The dendritic block preferably represents a unit of formulae Ia, Ib or a combination of them, for example formulae Ic, wherein the broken line symbolizes the linkage to the polyimide main chain. The polymer may be used as an orientation layer for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: Diamine compounds, which in particular are useful as precursors for the production of liquid crystal alignment layers, represented by general formula (I), wherein A1 represents an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms; A2 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group of 1 to 40 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Photoreactive dendrimers comprising a core portion, branching units and terminal groups, wherein at least one terminal group and/or branching unit is a photoreactive group and wherein the photo reactive groups include preferably cinnamates, coumarins, benzylidenephthalimidines, benzylideneacetophenones, diphenylacetylenes stilbazoles, uracyl, quinolinone, maleinimides, or cinnamylidene acetic acid derivatives and are able to undergo photocyclization, in particular [2+2]-photocyclization.

Abstract: New photoactive polymers, their use as liquid crystal (LC) orientation layers and their use in the construction of unstructured and structured optical and electro-optical elements and multi-layer systems. The new photoactive polymers are crosslinkable polymers that can be readily cross linked over a relatively short irradiation time.

Abstract: A photoactive polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof comprises as a side-chain a photocrosslinkable group of the general formula (I) wherein the broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polyimide main chain and wherein: B is a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue which is optionally substituted, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by a group Q; D represents an oxygen atom or —NR1— wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; and S3 represents a spacer unit. The polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: A photoactive side-chain polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof, comprising as a side-chain a dentritic block incorporating photoactive groups at its surface. The dentritic block preferably represents a unit of formulae Ia, Ib or a combination of them, for example formulae Ic wherein the broken line symbolizes the linkage to polyimide main chain. The polymer may be used as orientation layer for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel photoactive copolymer and its use as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: A photoactive polymer of the general formula I: in which: P is a photoactive group which can photoisomerise and/or photodimerise; B represents an aromatic or alicyclic group, or B further represents a nitrogen atom or —CR2—; A, C, D each independently of the other represents an aromatic or alicyclic group; M represents a repeating monomer unit in a homo- or copolymer; S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 represent a single covalent bond or a spacer unit; n1, n2 are each independently a positive integer up to 2 with the proviso that n1+n2≦2; R1 is a hydrogen atom, or a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl. The photoactive polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers of the general formula I: in which M1, M1′, M2 denote a recurring monomer unit from the group: acrylate, methacrylate, 2-chloroacrylate, 2-phenylacrylate; w, w1, w2 are molar fractions of the comonomers with 0<w≦1, 0≦w1<1 and 0≦w2≦0.

Abstract: Photocrosslinkable, mesogenic mixtures, especially for optical or electro-optical devices, exhibit improved properties when, in addition to containing two or more liquid-crystalline monomers each having at least two terminal polymerizable groups, they contain at least one non-liquid-crystalline monomer having no or, at most, one alicyclic or aromatic structural unit and having at least one terminal polymerizable group.

Abstract: A photoactive polymer from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof comprises as a side-chain a photocrosslinkable group of the general formula (I) 1

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers of the general formula I: 1

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable, photoactive polymers from the class of polyimides, polyamide acids and esters thereof, and to their use as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems. The polymers contain as side-chains photo-crosslinkable groups of the following formula: The broken line indicates the point of linkage to the polymer main chain. In addition, A, B each independently of the other represents unsubstituted or optionally fluoro-, chloro-, cyano-, alkyl-, alkoxy-, fluoroalkyl- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, piperidine-1,4-diyl, piperazine-1,4-diyl; C represents unsubstituted or optionally fluoro-, chloro-, cyano-, alkyl-, alkoxy-, fluoroalkyl- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted phenylene, or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, 2,5-thiophenylene, 2,5-furanylene, 1,4- or 2,6-naphthylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable, photoactive silane derivatives of the formula I mixtures of silane derivatives of the formula I and mixtures of silane derivatives of the formula I with uncrosslinkable silane derivatives as usually used for silanizing inorganic, oxide-containing surfaces. The invention furthermore relates to the use of silane derivatives of the formula I and of mixtures which contain at least one silane derivative of the formula I as orientation layers for liquid crystals and for the production of unstructured or structured optical elements and multilayer systems.

Abstract: The invention provides novel cross-linkable, photoactive silane derivatives and mixtures with 3-aryl-acrylic acid esters and amides. The present invention also provides orienting layers for liquid crystals, and non-structured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems based on the silane mixtures and derivatives.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkenyl; rings A and B each independently are 1,4-phenylene,trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or trans-1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl;Z.sup.1 is a single bond or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --; andZ.sup.2 is a single bond, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 --,--C.tbd.C--, --COO-- or --OOC--; andm, n are 0 or 1, with the proviso that m+n.ltoreq.1;as well as liquid crystalline mixtures which contain such compounds and the use of such compounds and, respectively, mixtures for electro-optical display devices.

Abstract: A chiral dopant of the formula ##STR1## wherein ring A is 1,4-phenylene which is optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, cyano groups, or methyl groups, and in which one or two CH groups can be replaced by nitrogen, or is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene;Z is a single covalent bond, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O-- or --OCH.sub.2 --; X.sup.1,X.sup.2,X.sup.3,X.sup.4 each independently are hydrogen or fluorine;R.sup.1 is hydrogen, is alkyl with 1 to 12 carbon atoms which is optionally substituted with one or more fluorine or chlorine atoms and in which one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can be replaced by --0--, is alkenyl with 2 to 12 carbon atoms, which is optionally substituted with one or more fluorine or chlorine atoms and in which one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can be replaced by --O--, is a group of the formula ##STR2## and when R.sup.1 is bonded to an aromatic ring, can also be fluorine, chlorine, cyano, CF.sub.3, OCHF.sub.2 or --OCF.sub.3 ;R.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having two dioxane rings, the dipole moments of which are unidirectional. These are compounds of the general formula ##STR1## wherein A and B each independently is cyclic or acyclic hydrophobic residues; andn is 0, 1 or 2.as well as liquid crystalline mixtures which contain such compounds and the use of such compounds and, respectively, mixtures for electro-optical display devices.

Abstract: Compounds of the following formula are useful as liquid crystals: ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkenyl;A is a single bond or trans-1,4-cydohexylene;Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently a single bond or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, except Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 cannot simultaneously be --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --;ring B is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; andn is 0 or 1,Liquid crystalline mixtures which contain such compounds are especially useful in electro-optical indicating devices.