Abstract: The use of a mesogenic compound having a terminal end chain comprising carbon, oxygen, or sulphur, which has at least one pendent C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy or a cycloalkyl ring, arranged no more than 6 atoms from the end of the chain either decreasing the melting point, increasing the clearing point, increasing the speed of switching and/or increasing the tilt angle of a liquid crystal mixture. Examples of such compounds are of formula (I) where M is a mesogenic core group, and X and Y are terminal groups, provided that at least one group X or Y is a group of sub-formula (i) where Z1, Z2, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, s, q, m and n are as defined in the specification. Novel compounds of formula (I) are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The use of a mesogenic compound having a terminal end chain comprising carbon, oxygen, or sulphur, which has at least one pendent C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy or a cycloalkyl ring, arranged no more than 6 atoms from the end of the chain either decreasing the melting point, increasing the clearing point, increasing the speed of switching and/or increasing the tilt angle of a liquid crystal mixture. Examples of such compounds are of formula (I) where M is a mesogenic core group, and X and Y are terminal groups, provided that at least one group X or Y is a group of sub-formula (i) where Z1, Z2, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, s, q, m and n are as defined in the specification. Novel compounds of formula (I) are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Polymeric compounds of general formula (I) where X, X1, X2 are independently straight or branched chain C1-16 alkyl, halogen and H; (a) is a suitable mesogenic group; Z=single covalent bond, oxygen CO2, OCO; n=1-20; Y=oxygen, CO2, OCO, CH2, CHOH, CH2O; m=3-10,000. The compounds are liquid crystal polymers useful in liquid crystal devices, sensors, and in non-linear optical devices. The compounds are prepared by polymerization of the oxitane monomer to obtain the side-chain liquid crystalline polyoxitane compound. In this way the mesogenic groups are spaced on every fourth carbon atom in the polymer chain allowing greater mobility for the mesogenic group.