Abstract: Compounds for use in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures of general formula (I), where R.sub.1 is alkyl, Y is COO or OOC, m, n and p are 0 or 1 provided m+n is 2 or less and when Y is OOC, p is 0, X is a mesogenic group, especially 4.sup.1 -alkyl- or alkyl-biphenyl or bicyclohexyl. Methods for preparation of these compounds are given, and ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures containing them are described.

Abstract: Amides having the following structure: ##STR1## used in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures, especially as pitch compensators and liquid crystal compositions containing them.

Abstract: Novel compounds suitable for use as chiral dopants in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal materials comprising an optically active derivative of an .alpha.-amino acid of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-20 alkyl or alkoxy, R is C.sub.1-20 n-alkyl and Y is C.sub.1-20 alkyl. A liquid crystal mixture and a device using these compounds are also described.

Abstract: A compound suitable for use in a ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal composition having a structure which contains two chiral centers derived from alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid groups and having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is n-alkoxy containing 1-12 carbo atoms and R.sub.2 is n-alkyl containing 1-12 carbon atoms. Methods of preparation and details of liquid crystal mixtures containing these compounds are described.

Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds of the formula IR.sup.1 -A.sup.1 -Z.sup.1 -A.sup.2 -[Z.sup.2 -A.sup.3 ].sub.n -R.sup.2Iwherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and n are defined in claim 1, can be used as components of liquid-crystalline phases.

Abstract: Liquid crystal polymers of general formula ##STR1## wherein the ratio b : a is less than 3 and greater than O, X is a mesogenic group of formula ##STR2## where A and B are cyclic groups, preferably phenyl, which may carry lateral substituents, preferably methyl, R may be F, CH.sub.3, CN, R.sup.1 , OR.sup.1 or COOR.sup.1 where R.sup.1 is alkyl, Y is COO.sub.1 OOC, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, c is 0 or 1. A preferred group X is ##STR3## The polymers may be used for optical information storage either alone or in mixture with other liquid crystals for example with smectic materials of formula ##STR4## where R" is alkyl or alkoxy and r is 0 or 1.

Abstract: New bicyclohexyls of the formula IR.sup.1 --Cy--Cy--R.sup.2wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each alkyl which has 1-10 C atoms and in which one or two CH.sub.2 group(s) can be replaced by 0 atoms, and Cy is 1,4-cyclohexylene,are suitable for use as the coponents of liquid-crystal dielectrics.

Abstract: Novel lactic acid derivatives which may be used as a component of a ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixture, which derivatives have the general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is alkyl or alkoxy and R.sub.2 is alkyl. Liquid crystalline compositions containing these compounds are also described.

Abstract: Compounds of the formulaR.sup.1 --Q.sup.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --(COO).sub.n --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --Q.sup.2 --R.sup.2whereinR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently alkyl or alkoxy each of 1-12 C atoms, F, Cl, Br, CN or --Q.sup.3 --R.sup.3, or one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can also be H;Q.sup.1, Q.sup.2 and Q.sup.3 are each independently 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-bicyclo(2,2,2)-octylene or 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 fluorine, chlorine or bromine atoms;R.sup.3 is alkyl or alkoxy each of 1-8 C atoms, H, F, Cl, Br or CN;m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; n is 0 or 1; and p is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; the sum of (m+p) being 2, 4 or 6 and the sum of (m+n+p) being at least 3;but with the proviso that Q.sup.3 is unsubstituted 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-phenylene substituted by a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, only when n=1 or (m+p)=6 or at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 is F, Cl or Br or none of R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 is CN or two of the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.

Abstract: Novel derivatives of cyclic and acyclic terpenoid alcohols, having general formula (I) X--(CO).sub.n --O--T.sub.1, where n=O or l, T.sub.1 is a terpenoid group and X is a combination of cyclic groups, e.g. phenyl, cyclohexyl and pyrimidyl, X preferably contains up to three cyclic groups. Preferred derivatives are esters of cyclic terpenoid alcohols, e.g. menthol, borneol and isopineocampheol, e.g. formula (II) (-)-menthol. Ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures and devices containing these derivatives as chiral dopants in a tilted smectic host are also described. The properties of various other derivatives of terpenoid alcohols of formula (I) are also described, e.g. those of neomenthol, isolongifolol, fenchol, carveol, myrthenol, nopol, citronellol, perilla alcohol and dihydrocitronellol.

Abstract: A heterocyclically substituted ethane having a formula:R.sub.1 -Cy-CH.sub.2.CH.sub.2 -A-R.sub.2 Formula 1whereinA represents a heterocyclic ring selected from a trans 2,5 disubstituted 1,3 dioxan ring and a 2,5 disubstituted 1,3-pyrimidine ring;R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 represents a group selected from hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms and alkoxy having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms provided that where A is a trans 2,5 disubstituted 1,3 dioxan ring R.sub.2 is alkyl; andCy represents a trans-1,4 disubstituted cyclohexane ring.

Abstract: Novel terphenyls having a relatively high clearing point and which are suitable for use in liquid crystal materials or in the preparation of compounds for use in such material are characterized by a formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy;R.sub.2 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy;X.sub.1 is selected from H and fluorine;X.sub.2 is selected from H and fluorine; and ##STR2## provided that one of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is fluorine. Compounds wherein ##STR3## are generally useful as liquid crystal compounds.

Abstract: A fluorinated compound having a formula: ##STR1## R.sub.1 is hydrogen or alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms, alkoxy having up to 12 carbon atoms, ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen, alkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms or alkoxy having up to 12 carbon atoms; ##STR3## represents a cyclohexane ring which is in the trans configuration if 1, 4-disubstituted; ##STR4## represents a benzene ring; each of X, Y and Z independently represents hydrogen or fluorine in one or more of the lateral benzene ring positions, provided that at least one of X, Y and Z is present representing fluorine;n=0 or 1 provided that when n=0 ##STR5## and R.sub.1 is alkyl; with the proviso that in Formula I when n is 1 and ##STR6## where R.sub.1 is n-alkyl and R.sub.2 is n-alkyl or n-alkoxy the total number of carbon plus oxygen atoms in the two groups R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is less than 10.

Abstract: Ethane derivatives of the formula IR.sup.1 --A.sup.1 --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --A.sup.2 --(A.sup.3).sub.n --R.sup.2 IwhereinR.sup.1 is H, an alkyl group with 1-12 C atoms, in which one or two non adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by O atoms and/or CO groups and/or --O--CO-- groups and/or --CO--O groups, F, Cl, Br or R.sup.3 --A.sup.4 --Z.sup.1 --,R.sup.2 is --CN or --Z.sup.2 --A.sup.4 --CN,A.sup.1 is --A--, --A--A.sup.5 -- or --A.sup.5 --A--,A.sup.2 is an 1,4-phenylene group which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two F and/or Cl atoms and/or CH.sub.3 groups and/or CN groups and in which one or two CH groups can also be replaced by N atoms,A is a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, in which one or two non adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by O atoms, or is a 1,3-dithiane-2,5-diyl group or 1,4-bicyclo(2,2,2)-octylene group,A.sup.3, A.sub.4 are each a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, in which one or two non adjacent CH.sub.

Abstract: A heterocyclically substituted ethane having a formula:R.sub.1 --Cy--CH.sub.2.CH.sub.2 --A--R.sub.2 Formula IwhereinA represents a heterocyclic ring selected from a trans 2,5 disubstituted 1,3 dioxan ring and a 2,5 disubstituted 1,3-pyrimidine ring;R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 represents a group selected from hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms and alkoxy having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms provided that where A is a trans 2,5 disubstituted 1,3 dioxan ring R.sub.2 is alkyl; andCy represents a trans-1,4 disubstituted cyclohexane ring.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal compound has a formula: ##STR1## where: ##STR2## is a trans-2,5-disubstituted-1,3-dioxan ring or a 2,5-disubstituted-1,3-pyrimidine ring ##STR3## is a 1,4-disubstituted benzene ring optionally containing one or more F, Cl or CH.sub.3 groups as lateral substituents; R.sub.1 is an alkyl group; andX is a terminal group selected from H, CN, Cl, F and R.sub.2 where R.sub.2 is selected from alkyl R.sub.3, alkoxy OR.sub.3, alkylcarbonyloxy OCOR.sub.3 and alkoxycarbonyloxy OCOOR.sub.3.

Abstract: Compounds of the formulaR.sup.1 --Q.sup.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --(COO).sub.n --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --Q.sup.2 --R.sup.2whereinR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently alkyl or alkoxy each of 1-12 C atoms, F, Cl, Br, CN or --Q.sup.3 --R.sup.3, or one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can also be H;Q.sup.1, Q.sup.2 and Q.sup.3 are each independently 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-bicyclo(2,2,2)-octylene or 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-4 fluorine, chlorine or bromine atoms;R.sup.3 is alkyl or alkoxy each of 1-8 C atoms, H, F, Cl, Br or CN;m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; n is 0 or 1; and p is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; the sum of (m+p) being 2, 4 or 6 and the sum of (m+n+p) being at least 3;but with the proviso that Q.sup.3 is unsubstituted 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-phenylene substituted by a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, only when n=1 or (m+p)=6 or at least one of R.sup.1 or R.sup.3 is F, Cl or Br or none of R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 is CN or two of the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.

Abstract: New bicyclohexyls of the formula IR.sup.1 --Cy--Cy--R.sup.2wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each alkyl which has 1-10 C atoms and in which one or two CH.sub.2 group(s) can be replaced by O atoms, and Cy is 1,4-cyclohexylene,are suitable for use as the components of liquid-crystal dielectrics.

Abstract: Novel terphenyls having a relatively high clearing point and which are suitable for use in liquid crystal materials or in the preparation of compounds for use in such material are characterised by a formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy;R.sub.2 is selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy;X.sub.1 is selected from H and fluorine;X.sub.2 is selected from H and fluorine; and ##STR2## is selected from ##STR3## and ##STR4## provided that one of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is fluroine. Compounds wherein ##STR5## is ##STR6## or ##STR7## are generally useful as liquid crystal compounds.