The present invention relates to heteroaromatic isothiocyanates of formula N

##STR00001##

as defined in claim 1, to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula N and to high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

The present invention relates to a compound of formula GF

##STR00001##

in which the occurring groups and parameters have the meanings defined in claim 1, to a liquid crystal medium comprising a compound of formula GF and to high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

A device containing a radio-frequency (RF) liquid crystal (RFLC) mixture with improved performance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the improved performance includes high RF tuning, broad thermal operating ranges and low viscosity. In one embodiment, the device comprises an antenna comprising: an antenna element array having a plurality of antenna elements and each antenna element having a liquid crystal (LC) structure, wherein the LC structure comprises a mixture of one or more of the following: ##STR00001##
laterally functionalized with one or more of at least a proton, a hydrogen (H), or a heteroatom.

A device containing a radio-frequency (RF) liquid crystal (RFLC) mixture with improved performance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the improved performance includes high RF tuning, broad thermal operating ranges and low viscosity. In one embodiment, the device comprises an antenna comprising: an antenna element array having a plurality of antenna elements and each antenna element having a liquid crystal (LC) structure, wherein the LC structure comprises a mixture of one or more of the following:

##STR00001##

laterally functionalized with one or more of at least a proton, a hydrogen (H), or a heteroatom.

The present invention relates to a compound of formula GF ##STR00001##
in which the occurring groups and parameters have the meanings defined in claim 1, to a liquid crystal medium comprising a compound of formula GF and to high-frequency components comprising these media, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g. phased array antennas.

Heteroaromatic isothiocyanates of formula N ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.N, A.sup.N1, A.sup.N2, Z.sup.N1, Z.sup.N2, W, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, and n are as defined herein can be used in liquid crystalline media. Liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula N are suitable for use in high-frequency components, especially microwave components for high-frequency devices, such as devices for shifting the phase of microwaves, tunable filters, tunable metamaterial structures, and electronic beam steering antennas, e.g., phased array antennas.