Abstract: The invention relates to chiral photoisomerizable compounds of formula (I) wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6 have the meanings given in claim 1, to liquid crystalline mixtures and polymers containing them, and to the use of chiral photoisomerizable compounds, liquid crystalline mixtures and polymers containing them in optical and electrooptical devices like liquid crystal displays or projection systems, in optical elements like polarizers, retardation films, compensators, color filters or holographic elements, in liquid crystal pigments and colored films or coatings for decorative or security applications, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions, in nonlinear optics and optical information storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to cholesteric polymer flakes obtainable from a chiral polymerizable mesogenic material, to methods of manufacturing such cholesteric flakes, to the use of certain chiral and achiral polymerizable compounds with one or more terminal polymerizable groups for the manufacturing of such flakes and to the use of such cholesteric flakes as effect pigments in spraying or printing inks or paints or colored plastics for different applications, especially for automotive use, cosmetic products and security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to reactive liquid crystal compounds of Formula (I), wherein P=polymerizable group, Sp=spacer, X and Z=linking group, n=1, m=0, or 1, A1 and A2=ring structure and R=unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group with the proviso that m=1 and/or R—P—Sp—X group. The composition comprising reactive liquid crystal compounds of formula (I), to linear or cross-linked (co) polymers obtainable by (co) polymerizing said reactive liquid crystals or compositions and to the use of said reactive liquid crystals or compositions for the preparation of linear or cross-linked polymers or polymer films for decorative pigments, cosmetics or security applications, active and passive optical elements, color filters, scattering displays, adhesives or synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to chiral dopants of the formula (I): R1—X1—MG1—G—MG2—X2—R2. The invention also relates to liquid crystalline materials comprising at least one chiral dopant of formula (I) and optionally at least one polymerizable mesogenic compound. The invention furthermore relates to the use of such liquid crystalline materials for the preparation of polymer films with a chiral liquid crystalline phase, for active and passive optical elements or color filters and for liquid crystal displays, for example STN, TN, AMD-TN, temperature compensation, guest-host or phase change displays, or polymer free or polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PFCT, PSCT) displays.

Abstract: The invention relates to cholesteric polymer flakes obtainable from a chiral polymerizable mesogenic material, to methods of manufacturing such cholesteric flakes, to the use of certain chiral and achiral polymerizable compounds with one or more terminal polymerizable groups for the manufacturing of such flakes and to the use of such cholesteric flakes as effect pigments in spraying or printing inks or paints or colored plastics for different applications, especially for automotive use, cosmetic products and security applications.