Abstract: The invention relates to new and known tricyclic dione derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## wherein W represents hydrogen or lower alkyl;X represents lower alkyl;Y represents NR1;R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl-lower alkyl;Z represents aryl or heteroaryl optionally substituted by one or more halo, cyano, nitro, lower alkyl, halo-lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo-lower alkoxy, COR.sup.2, OCOR.sup.2, CO.sub.2 R.sup.2, OR.sup.2, S(O).sub.n R.sup.2, NR.sup.2 R.sup.3, N(R.sup.4)COR.sup.5, Ar, Ar-lower alkyl, Het or Het-lower alkyl substituents and/or on adjacent carbon atoms by lower alkylenedioxy;R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each individually represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, Ar, Ar-lower alkyl, Het or Het-lower alkyl substituents; or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together represent the group --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- or --CH.dbd.N--CH.dbd.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral compounds containing at least one divalent or polyvalent chiral group, at least one polymerizable group, at least one spacer and at least one mesogenic group, and to their use as polymerizable, chiral dopes for the preparation of cholesteric networks. The novel compounds are suitable for use in electro-optical displays or as chiral dopes for nematic or cholesteric liquid crystals in order to produce layers which reflect in colors.