Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds have been synthesized of general formula (I) and may be mixed with other liquid crystal compounds to give useful liquid crystal mixtures which may then be used in liquid crystal devices. Such devices include linear and non-linear electrical, optical and electro-optical devices, magneto-optical devices and devices providing responses to stimuli such as temperature changes and total or partial pressure changes. Formula (I) where each Z.sub.1-6 is given by formula (II), where Y for each of Z.sub.1-6 is independently COO, OCO, CH.sub.2 O and OCH.sub.2, m defines the number of substituents on each of Z.sub.1-6 and is independently 0-5,and X is independently for each substituent on each of Z.sub.1-6 alkyl (straight chain, branched and chiral), alkoxy (straight chain, branched or chiral), alkanoyl (straight chain, branched or chiral), alkenyl (straight chain, branched or chiral), halogen, halogenoalkyl (straight chain, branched or chiral) and CN, provided that at least one of Z.sub.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds of the formula:R.sup.1 --Z.sup.1).sub.m --(Z.sup.2)--X--(Z.sup.3)--(Z.sup.4).sub.n --R.sup.2These compounds may be mixed with other liquid crystal compounds to give liquid crystal mixtures which may then be used in liquid crystal devices. In the formula X is COS, CSS and CSO; each of Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3, and Z.sup.4 are independently phenyl, substituted phenyl, where substitution is lateral substitution selected from F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2, CN, NCS; naphthalene, substituted naphthalene, where substitution is lateral substitution selected from F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2, CN, NCS, CH.sub.3 ; thiophene, pyridine and pyrimidine; each of A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 is independently selected from single bond, C.tbd.C, CH.dbd.CH; A.sup.3 is selected from C.tbd.C and single bond; each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from CN, NCS, CH.dbd.C(CN).sub.2, C.tbd.C--CN, C.tbd.C--CF.sub.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds of formula (I) are described, where formula (I) is given as R.sub.1 --A--(X.sub.m --(B).sub.n --R.sub.2 where A is selected from nathyl, flourinated naphthyl, brominated naphthyl, B is selected from phenyl, methylated phenyl, brominated phenyl, fluorinated phenyl, thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from alkyl, alkoxy, alkynyl, thioalkyl, Br, CN, SCN, NCS, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy and hydrogen, X is selected from C.tbd.C, COO and C.tbd.C, m is 0 or 1, n is 0 or 1 where m is 1 and n is 0 where m is 0; provided that where A is naphthyl, n is 1 and m is 0 then B is selected from methylated phenyl, brominated phenyl, thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine; and further provided that where A is naphthyl, X is C.tbd.C, m is 1 and n is 1, then B is selected from thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine.

Abstract: Laterally cyano-substituted terphenyls of formula (I), wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from hydrogen or C.sub.1-15 alkyl, alkoxy, or alkyl or alkoxy in which one or more CH.sub.2 groups are replaced by O, COO, OOC, CHX, CX.sub.2, CH=CX, CX=CH, CX=CX, where X is fluorine or chlorine. CRCN where R is alkyl, or C.tbd.C or in which a terminal CH.sub.3 of the said alkyl or alkoxy chain is replaced by CF.sub.3, n is 0 or 1, and the CN and F (if present) substituent are independently located in any of the available substitution positions. Liquid crystal materials containing these terphenyls are also described.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) where R is C.sub.1-15 alkyl, X is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, m and n are independently selected 1 or 0, W is C.sub.1-15 alkyl or alkoxy, CN or halogen, rings A and B Are independently selected from phenyl, laterally fluoro- or chloro- substituted phenyl, transcyclohexyl pyridyl, pyrimidyl or dioxanyl. Preferred embodiments have R=C.sub.3-8 and where W is alkyl or alkoxy then it is also preferable that W=C.sub.3-8. Where m=0, then preferably W=CN and where m=1, then preferably W=alkyl.

Abstract: Novel compounds of formula (I), in which R is R.sup.1, R.sup.1 O or R.sup.1 COO, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-12 alkyl, n and m are 0 or 1 provided that (n+m) is 0 or 1, each of a, b, c and d are independently 0 or 1, provided (a+b+c+d) is not zero, but excluding the case where a and b are 0 and m is 0 and one of c or d is 0 are described, being useful constituents of nematic liquid crystal materials.

Abstract: Fluorinated 4"-cyano substituted terphenyls of general formula (I), wherein R.sub.1 is selected from alkenyl, H, R, RO and RCO where R is alkyl or perfluoroalkyl containing up to 12 carbon atoms, n is 1, 2 or 3 and the lateral fluorosubstituent(s) may be in any of the available substitution positions are provided. These have liquid crystalline properties and may be used as components of liquid crystal materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to fluorinated oligophenyls of formula (I), in which a is 0 or 1 and in which the terminal substituents R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently an alkyl or alkenyl residue each with up to 15 C atoms, optionally substituted by CN or by at least one halogen atom, and wherein one or more non adjacent CH.sub.2 groups of these residues may be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, --O--CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO--O-- or --C.tbd.C--, one of the residues R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may also denote a group of formula (II), any one of the following pairs of lateral substituents are both fluorine: (A, B), (C, D), (D, E), (C, E), (B, C), (D, J), (D, K), (A, C), (C, J), (C', D'), (D', E), (D', A), (C', E), (C', A), (D', J'), (D', K'), (C', J'), (B, G), (A, G), all of the other lateral substituents being hydrogen or fluorine, and to their use as components of liquid crystalline compositions.

Abstract: 4-Q.sup.1 -4'-Q.sup.2 -2,3-Difluorobiphenyls whereinQ.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 independently of one another are each R or R-A.sup.1 -A.sup.2 -Z in whichR (sic) alkyl having 1-15 C atoms or alkenyl having 3-15 C atoms each of which is unsubstituted or monosubstituted by cyano or at least monosubstituted by fluorine or chlorine, and in which in each case one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by --O--, --CO--, --O--CO, --CO--O-- or --O--COO--, (sic) --COO--, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 O, --O--CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or a single bond, andA.sup.1 and A.sup.2 independently of one another . . (sic) each 1,4-phenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two fluorine atoms, and in which one or two CH groups can also be replaced by N, or trans-1,4-cyclohexylene wherein one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can also be replaced by --O--, and one of the two groups A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 can also be a single bond,subject to the proviso that Z is --CO--O, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.

Abstract: Laterally fluorinated 4-cyanophenyl and 4'-cyanobiphenyl benzoates are diosed of general formula I: ##STR1## in which R is R.sup.1 or R.sup.1 O, wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, m and n are 0 or 1 provided that (n+m) is 0 or 1, each of a, b, c and d are independently 0 or 1, provided (a+b+c+d) is not zero, but excluding the case where a and b are 0 and one of c and d is 0, being useful constituents of nematic liquid crystal materials.