Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimides, poly(amic acids) and poly(amide esters) thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing an optical alignment layer for aligning liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays comprising exposing polyimide layers with polarized light. The invention further describes optical alignment layers, liquid crystal displays incorporating optical alignment layers and novel polymer compositions within the class of polyimide, polyamic acids and esters thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimide, polyamic acids and esters thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side chain polymers of the general formula I —L1—D—L2—Cf  I wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays and other liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyimides, poly(amic acids) and poly(amide esters) thereof, and optical alignment layers derived therefrom, for inducing alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays. The novel compositions comprise side-chain polymers of the general formula I —L1—D—L2—Cf wherein D comprises 1 to 4 carbon-carbon double bonds, Cf is a monovalent C4 to C20 fluorocarbon radical and L1 and L2 are linking groups. The invention further describes liquid crystal displays and other liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing an optical alignment layer for aligning liquid crystals and liquid crystal displays comprising exposing polyimide layers with polarized light. The invention further describes optical alignment layers, liquid crystal displays incorporating optical alignment layers and novel polymer compositions within the class of polyimide, polyamic acids and esters thereof.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a new class of abscisic acid (ABA) analogs of formula I ##STR1## wherein one of R.sub.1 is alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cycloalkenyl, other farther substituted carbon chain including deuterium containing residues, and carbon containing substituents with heteroatoms and halogens and the other is methyl, and wherein the five member carbon side chain includes a methyl group at C3, with C5 attached to the ring as shown, including a trans double bond at the C4-C5 position, or a triple bond at this position, and either a cis or a trans double bond at the C2-C3 position, and R.sub.2 is CH.sub.2 OH, CHO, COOH, COO alkyl, or derivatives thereof, and wherein the cyclohexanone ring double bond may also be reduced and to a novel process for synthesizing such ABA analogs.