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: A novel LCP material based on forked side chain acrylates is disclosed having a general formula I; ##STR1## wherein W=H, CH.sub.3, Cl R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may or may not be the same but have the following general structure: ##STR2## p=2 to 14; q=0 or 1;r=1 or 2;s=1 or 2;X=O, CO.sub.2, O.sub.2 C, CH.sub.2 ;Y=C.sub.2 H.sub.4, O, CO.sub.2, O.sub.2 C;Z=CN, halogen, R, CO.sub.2 R, OR, O.sub.2 CR, wherein R=chiral or achiral.

Abstract: Disclosed are liquid crystal compounds of formula IR.sup.1 --P--X--(A.sup.1 --Z.sup.1).sub.n --A.sup.2 --R.sup.2 IwhereinR is ##STR1## W is H, Cl or C.sub.1-5 -alkyl, and m is 1-7,P is C.sub.1-12 alkylene, one or more CH.sub.2 groups optionally being replaced by O,X is --O--, --S--, --COO--, --OCO-- or a single bond,R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-15 -alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, one or more CH.sub.2 groups optionally replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, --O--CO--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--O--; R.sup.1 --P--X, CN, F, Cl or --V--Q--T,V is --O--, --S-- or a single bond,Q is --CH.sub.2 --, --CHF--, --CF.sub.2 --,T is F or Cl,n is 1 or 2,A.sup.1, A.sup.2 are 1,4-phenylene optionally substituted by F, Cl, CN or --W--C.sub.r H.sub.s F.sub.2r+1-s, or one of A.sup.1 or A.sup.2 is ##STR2## pyrimidine-2,5-diyl or pyrimidine-2,5 diyl, Z.sup.1 is --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystalline material in the form of an anisotropic gel consisting of a polymerized monotropic or enantiotropic liquid crystalline material and a low-molecular weight liquid crystalline material, wherein the polymerized material a) forms a permanently oriented network in the low-molecular liquid crystalline material b), characterized in that the low-molecular weight liquid crystalline material b) exhibits a dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon.<-0.5, and to a display cell with such a material.

Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers made from mono-reactive liquid and/or di-reactive liquid crystals which can be photopolymerized to form copolymers and to novel reactive liquid crystal compound having a nematic phase. Preferentially the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized while in the liquid crystal phase to produce an oriented birefringent polymer film. To do this, the reactive liquid crystal, in its nematic or smectic phase is aligned (by well known techniques such as rubbed polyimide, etc.) and the thin film containing a small amount of photoinitiator, is subjected to ultraviolet light whereupon it polymerizes into a thin, aligned polymer film.