Liquid crystal medium containing polymerisable compounds

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising polymerisable compounds, to a process for its preparation, to its use for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in LC displays, and to LC displays comprising it.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal (LC) medium comprising a polymerisable component A) which comprises one or more first polymerisable compounds comprising a polymerisable group and a bi- or polycylic hydrocarbon group, and one or more second polymerisable compounds comprising a polymerisable group and a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic hydrocarbon group, and one or more third polymerisable compounds comprising a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic hydrocarbon group and attached thereto two polymerisable groups that are different from each other.

2. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more first polymerisable compounds selected from formula I
P-Sp-G.sup.1I wherein P is a polymerisable group, Sp is a spacer group or a single bond, G.sup.1 is a bi-, tri- or tetracyclic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 20 ring atoms which is optionally substituted by one or more groups L, L is F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, NCO, NCS, OCN, SCN, C(O)N(R.sup.x).sub.2, C(O)Y.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.x, N(R.sup.x).sub.2, optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having 5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by C(R.sup.0)C(R.sup.00), C, N(R.sup.0), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN, R.sup.x is H, F, Cl, CN, or straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a manner that O- and/or S-atoms are not directly connected with each other, and wherein one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F or Cl, R.sup.0, R.sup.00 are H or alkyl having 1 to 20 C atoms, and Y.sup.1 is halogen.

3. The LC medium according to claim 2, wherein component A) comprises one or more first polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00452## wherein P and Sp have the meanings given in claim 2, W.sup.11, W.sup.12 and W.sup.13 are independently of each other H, F or C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, and the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with one or more groups L as defined in claim 2.

4. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more first polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00453## ##STR00454##

5. The LC medium according to claim 2, wherein component A) comprises one or more second polymerisable compounds selected from formula II
P-Sp-G.sup.2II wherein P and Sp have the meanings given in claim 2, and G.sup.2 is a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic alkyl group with 1 to 20 C atoms that is optionally mono-, poly- or perfluorinated and is optionally substituted by one or more groups L as defined in claim 2, and wherein one or more CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, CO, OCO or COO such that O-atoms are not directly adjacent to one another.

6. The LC medium according to claim 2, wherein component A) comprises one or more second polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00455## wherein the individual radicals, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, have the following meanings P, Sp are as defined in claim 2, W.sup.11, W.sup.12 are H, F or straight chain or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, W.sup.13, W.sup.14 are H or F, n1 is an integer from 2 to 15, n2, n3 are 0 or an integer from 1 to 3, n5 an integer from 1 to 5, and n6, n7 0 or an integer from 1 to 15.

7. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more second polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00456## ##STR00457## ##STR00458## ##STR00459##

8. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more third polymerisable compounds selected of formula III
P.sup.1-Sp.sup.1-G.sup.3-Sp.sup.2-P.sup.2III wherein P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 denote polymerisable groups that are different from each other, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 denote independently of each other identical or different spacer groups or a single bond, G.sup.3 is a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic alkyl group with 1 to 20 C atoms that is optionally mono-, poly- or perfluorinated and is optionally substituted by one or more groups Las defined in formula I, and wherein one or more CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, CO, OCO or COO such that O-atoms are not directly adjacent to one another, and L is F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, NCO, NCS, OCN, SCN, C(O)N(R.sup.x).sub.2, C(O)Y.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.x, N(R.sup.x).sub.2, optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having 5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by C(R.sup.0)C(R.sup.00), CC, N(R.sup.0), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN.

9. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein, in the third polymerisable compounds, the polymerisable groups are selected from acrylate, methacrylate, ethacrylate and vinyloxy groups.

10. The LC medium according to claim 8, wherein component A) comprises one or more third polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00460## wherein P.sup.1, P.sup.2, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 are as defined in claim 8, W.sup.11 is, on each occurrence identically or differently, H, F or C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, n1 is an integer from 2 to 15, n2, n3 are independently of each other 0 or an integer from 1 to 3, n4 is 0 or an integer from 1 to 15, and the cyclohexylene ring in formula III2 is optionally substituted by one or more identical or different groups W.sup.11.

11. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more third polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00461## ##STR00462## ##STR00463## ##STR00464##

12. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more fourth polymerisable compounds comprising a ring system containing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic rings or condensed aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, and attached thereto two polymerisable groups that are different from each other.

13. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more fourth polymerisable compounds selected from the following formula
P.sup.1-Sp.sup.1-B.sup.1(Z.sup.bB.sup.2).sub.mSp.sup.2-P.sup.2IV P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 denote polymerisable groups that are different from each other, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 denote independently of each other identical or different spacer groups or a single bond, B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 are independently of each other, and on each occurrence identically or differently, an aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic group having 4 to 25 ring atoms, which may also contain fused rings, and which is unsubstituted, or mono- or polysubstituted by L, wherein at least one of B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 denotes an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, z.sup.b is, on each occurrence identically or differently, O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO, OCH.sub.2-, CH.sub.2O, SCH.sub.2, CH.sub.2S-, CF.sub.2O-, OCF.sub.2-, CF.sub.2S-, SCF.sub.2-, (CH.sub.2).sub.n1, CF.sub.2CH.sub.2-, CH.sub.2CF.sub.2-, (CF.sub.2).sub.n11, CHCH, CFCF, CC, CHCHCOO, OCOCHCH, CR.sup.0R.sup.00 or a single bond, R.sup.0 and R.sup.00 each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, m denotes 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, n11 denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4 and L is F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, NCO, NCS, OCN, SCN, C(O)N(R.sup.x).sub.2, C(O)Y.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.x, N(R.sup.x).sub.2, optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having 5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by C(R.sup.0)C(R.sup.00), CC, N(R.sup.0), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN.

14. The LC medium according to claim 8, wherein component A) comprises one or more fourth polymerisable compounds selected from the following formulae ##STR00465## ##STR00466## in which P.sup.1, P.sup.2, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 and L are as defined in claim 8, Z.sup.1 is O, CO, C(R.sup.yR.sup.z) or CF.sub.2CF.sub.2, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3 are independently of each other COO, OCO, CH.sub.2O-, OCH.sub.2, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n11, where n11 is 2, 3 or 4, R.sup.y, R.sup.z are independently of each other H, F, CH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3, r is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, s is 0, 1, 2 or 3, and t is 0, 1 or 2.

15. The LC medium according to claim 12, wherein the concentration of the first, second, third and fourth polymerisable compounds in the LC medium is from 1 to 30% by weight.

16. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of first polymerisable compounds relative to the second polymerisable compounds in the LC medium is from 10:1 to 1:10.

17. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein the medium further comprises a component B) which comprises one or more compounds selected from formulae A and B ##STR00467## in which the individual radicals have, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, the following meanings: ##STR00468## each, independently of one another, and on each occurrence, identically or differently ##STR00469## R.sup.21, R.sup.31 each, independently of one another, alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, X.sup.0 F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C atoms, Z.sup.31 CH.sub.2CH.sub.2-, CF.sub.2CF.sub.2-, COO, trans-CHCH-, trans-CFCF-, CH.sub.2O or a single bond, L.sup.21, L.sup.22, L.sup.31, L.sup.32 each, independently of one another, H or F, g 0, 1, 2 or 3.

18. The LC medium according to claim 17, wherein component B) comprises, in addition to the compounds of formula A and/or B, one or more compounds of formula E containing an alkenyl group ##STR00470## in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, each, independently of one another, have the following meaning: ##STR00471## R.sup.A1 alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X and Y denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R.sup.A2, R.sup.A2 alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, x 1 or 2.

19. The LC medium according to claim 17, wherein component B) comprises one or more compounds selected from formulae CY and PY: ##STR00472## wherein a denotes 1 or 2, b denotes 0 or 1, ##STR00473## denotes ##STR00474## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that 0 atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z.sup.x and Z.sup.y each, independently of one another, denote CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CHCH, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, CFCF, CHCHCH.sub.2O or a single bond, L.sup.1-4 each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F or CHF.sub.2.

20. The LC medium according to claim 19, wherein component B) further comprises one or more alkenyl compounds selected from formulae AN and AY ##STR00475## in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning: ##STR00476## R.sup.A1 alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R.sup.A2, R.sup.A2 alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z.sup.x CH.sub.2CH.sub.2-, CHCH, CF.sub.2O-, OCF.sub.2-, CH.sub.2O-, OCH.sub.2-, COO, O-CO, C.sub.2F.sub.4-, CFCF, CHCHCH.sub.2O-, or a single bond, L.sup.1-4 H, F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F or CHF.sub.2H, x 1 or 2, z 0 or 1.

21. The LC medium according to claim 1, wherein the polymerisable compounds are polymerised.

22. An LC display comprising an LC medium according to claim 1.

23. The LC display of claim 22, which is a flexible display.

24. The LC display of claim 22, which is a TN, OCB, IPS, FFS, posi-VA, VA or UB-FFS display.

25. A process for the production of an LC display according to claim 22, comprising the steps of providing the LC medium into the display, and polymerising the polymerisable compounds in defined regions of the display.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein the polymerisable compounds are photopolymerised by exposure to UV irradiation.

27. The process of claim 26, wherein the polymerisable compounds are photopolymerised by exposure to UV irradiation through a photomask.

28. A process of preparing an LC medium according to claim 17, comprising the steps of mixing a liquid-crystalline component B), with one or more polymerisable compounds, comprising component A), and optionally with further LC compounds and/or additives.

29. The LC medium of claim 1, wherein component A) comprises one or more first polymerisable compounds selected from formula I
P-Sp-G.sup.1I wherein P is a polymerisable group, Sp is a spacer group or a single bond, G.sup.1 is a bridged or fused bi-, tri- or tetracyclic alkyl group, having 6 to 20 ring atoms which is optionally substituted by one or more groups L, L is F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, NCO, NCS, OCN, SCN, C(O)N(R.sup.x).sub.2, C(O)Y.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.x, N(R.sup.x).sub.2, optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having 5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by C(R.sup.0)C(R.sup.00), CC, N(R.sup.0), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN, R.sup.x is H, F, Cl, CN, or straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a manner that O- and/or S-atoms are not directly connected with each other, and wherein one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F or Cl, R.sup.0, R.sup.00 are H or alkyl having 1 to 20 C atoms, and Y.sup.1 is halogen.

30. The LC medium according to claim 19, wherein, in formulae CY and PY: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms, and Z.sup.x and Z.sup.y each denote a single bond.

31. The LC medium according to claim 20, wherein, in formulae AN and AY: Z.sup.x is a single bond, and L.sup.1-4 are H, F or Cl.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the polymer wall formation process in displays according to prior art and according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows polarization microscope images of a test cell containing polymerisable mixture C1 according to Comparison Example A after polymerization (a), after mechanical stress test (b) and after thermal stress test (c).

(3) FIG. 3 shows polarization microscope images of a test cell containing polymerisable mixture 1 according to Use Example A after polymerization (a), after mechanical stress test (b) and after thermal stress test (c).

(4) FIG. 4 shows polarization microscope images of a test cell containing polymerisable mixture 2 according to Use Example B after polymerization (a), after mechanical stress test (b) and after thermal stress test (c).

(5) FIG. 5 shows polarization microscope images of a test cell containing polymerisable mixture 2 according to Use Example B after a second UV irradiation step (a) and after thermal stress test (b).

(6) FIG. 6 shows polarization microscope images of test cells containing polymerisable mixtures 3, 4 and 5 according to Use Example C after polymerization (a) and after mechanical stress test (b).

(7) FIG. 7 shows polarization microscope images of test cells containing polymerisable mixtures 6, 7 and 8 according to Use Example D after polymerization (a) and after mechanical stress test (b).

(8) FIG. 8 shows a polarization microscope image of a test cell containing polymerisable mixture 11 according to Use Example E after polymerization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Above and below, the term bi- or polycyclic group will be understood to mean a group that consists of two or more fused rings, i.e. rings that share at last one common atom (in contrast to rings that are connected via covalent bonds between atoms belonging to different rings), wherein fusion of the rings occurs a) across a sequence of atoms (bridgehead), like for example in bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (norbornane) or tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decane (adamantane), hereinafter also referred to as bridged bi- or polycyclic groups, b) across a bond between two atoms, like for example in bicyclo[4.4.0]decane (decalin), hereinafter also referred to as fused bi- or polycyclic groups c) at a single atom (spiro atom), like for example in spiro[4.5]decane, hereinafter also referred to as spirocyclic groups.

(10) Unless indicated otherwise, the abbreviation RM is used above and below when referring to a reactive mesogen.

(11) Above and below, polymerisable compounds or RMs with one polymerisable reactive group are also referred to as monoreactive, polymerisable compounds or RMs with two polymerisable reactive groups are also referred to as direactive, and polymerisable compounds or RMs with three polymerisable reactive groups are also referred to as trireactive.

(12) Unless indicated otherwise, the expression LC mixture is used when referring to the LC host mixture (i.e. without the RMs or polymerizable compounds), while the expression LC medium is used when referring to the LC host mixture plus the RM(s) or polymerizable compounds.

(13) Unless stated otherwise, the polymerisable compounds and RMs are preferably selected from achiral compounds.

(14) As used herein, the terms active layer and switchable layer mean a layer in an electrooptical display, for example an LC display, that comprises one or more molecules having structural and optical anisotropy, like for example LC molecules, which change their orientation upon an external stimulus like an electric or magnetic field, resulting in a change of the transmission of the layer for polarized or unpolarized light.

(15) As used herein, the terms reactive mesogen and RM will be understood to mean a compound containing a mesogenic or liquid crystalline skeleton, and one or more functional groups attached thereto which are suitable for polymerisation and are also referred to as polymerisable group or P.

(16) Unless stated otherwise, the term polymerisable compound as used herein will be understood to mean a polymerisable monomeric compound.

(17) As used herein, the term low-molecular-weight compound will be understood to mean to a compound that is monomeric and/or is not prepared by a polymerisation reaction, as opposed to a polymeric compound or a polymer.

(18) As used herein, the term unpolymerisable compound will be understood to mean a compound that does not contain a functional group that is suitable for polymerisation under the conditions usually applied for the polymerisation of the RMs or polymerizable compounds.

(19) The term mesogenic group as used herein is known to the person skilled in the art and described in the literature, and means a group which, due to the anisotropy of its attracting and repelling interactions, essentially contributes to causing a liquid-crystal (LC) phase in low-molecular-weight or polymeric substances. Compounds containing mesogenic groups (mesogenic compounds) do not necessarily have to have an LC phase themselves. It is also possible for mesogenic compounds to exhibit LC phase behaviour only after mixing with other compounds and/or after polymerisation. Typical mesogenic groups are, for example, rigid rod- or disc-shaped units. An overview of the terms and definitions used in connection with mesogenic or LC compounds is given in Pure Appl. Chem. 2001, 73(5), 888 and C. Tschierske, G. Pelzl, S. Diele, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 6340-6368.

(20) The term spacer group, hereinafter also referred to as Sp, as used herein is known to the person skilled in the art and is described in the literature, see, for example, Pure Appl. Chem. 2001, 73(5), 888 and C. Tschierske, G. Pelzl, S. Diele, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 6340-6368. As used herein, the terms spacer group or spacer mean a flexible group, for example an alkylene group, which connects the mesogenic group and the polymerisable group(s) in a polymerisable mesogenic compound.

(21) Above and below,

(22) ##STR00001##

(23) denote a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene ring, and

(24) ##STR00002##

(25) denote a 1,4-phenylene ring.

(26) Above and below organic group denotes a carbon or hydrocarbon group.

(27) Carbon group denotes a mono- or polyvalent organic group containing at least one carbon atom, where this either contains no further atoms (such as, for example, CC) or optionally contains one or more further atoms, such as, for example, N, O, S, B, P, Si, Se, As, Te or Ge (for example carbonyl, etc.). The term hydrocarbon group denotes a carbon group which additionally contains one or more H atoms and optionally one or more heteroatoms, such as, for example, N, O, S, B, P, Si, Se, As, Te or Ge.

(28) Halogen denotes F, Cl, Br or I.

(29) CO, C(O) and C(O) denote a carbonyl group, i.e.

(30) ##STR00003##

(31) A carbon or hydrocarbon group can be a saturated or unsaturated group. Unsaturated groups are, for example, aryl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups. A carbon or hydrocarbon radical having more than 3 C atoms can be straight-chain, branched and/or cyclic and may also contain spiro links or condensed rings.

(32) The terms alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, etc., also encompass polyvalent groups, for example alkylene, arylene, heteroarylene, etc.

(33) The term aryl denotes an aromatic carbon group or a group derived therefrom. The term heteroaryl denotes aryl as defined above, containing one or more heteroatoms, preferably selected from N, O, S, Se, Te, Si and Ge.

(34) Preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are optionally substituted, straight-chain, branched or cyclic, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 40, preferably 1 to 20, very preferably 1 to 12, C atoms, optionally substituted aryl or aryloxy having 5 to 30, preferably 6 to 25, C atoms, or optionally substituted alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryloxy, arylalkyloxy, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, arylcarbonyloxy and aryloxycarbonyloxy having 5 to 30, preferably 6 to 25, C atoms, wherein one or more C atoms may also be replaced by hetero atoms, preferably selected from N, O, S, Se, Te, Si and Ge.

(35) Further preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20 alkynyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20 allyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.20 alkyldienyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.20 polyenyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.15 cycloalkenyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.30 aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.30 alkylaryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.30 arylalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.30 alkylaryloxy, C.sub.6-C.sub.30 arylalkyloxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.30 heteroaryl, C.sub.2-C.sub.30 heteroaryloxy.

(36) Particular preference is given to C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkynyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.25 aryl and C.sub.2-C.sub.25 heteroaryl.

(37) Further preferred carbon and hydrocarbon groups are straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 12, C atoms, which are unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I or CN and in which one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by C(R.sup.x)C(R.sup.x), CC, N(R.sup.x), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and

(38) R.sup.x denotes H, F, Cl, CN, a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl chain having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent C atoms may be replaced by O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by F or Cl, or denotes an optionally substituted aryl or aryloxy group with 6 to 30 C atoms, or an optionally substituted heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy group with 2 to 30 C atoms.

(39) Preferred alkyl groups are, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, 2-methylbutyl, n-pentyl, s-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-heptyl, cycloheptyl, n-octyl, cyclooctyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, dodecanyl, trifluoromethyl, perfluoro-n-butyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, perfluorooctyl, perfluorohexyl, etc.

(40) Preferred alkenyl groups are, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, cyclopentenyl, hexenyl, cyclohexenyl, heptenyl, cycloheptenyl, octenyl, cyclooctenyl, etc.

(41) Preferred alkynyl groups are, for example, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, octynyl, etc.

(42) Preferred alkoxy groups are, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, 2-methoxy-ethoxy, n-propoxy, i-propoxy, n-butoxy, i-butoxy, s-butoxy, t-butoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy, n-nonoxy, n-decoxy, n-undecoxy, n-dodecoxy, etc.

(43) Preferred amino groups are, for example, dimethylamino, methylamino, methylphenylamino, phenylamino, etc.

(44) Aryl and heteroaryl groups can be monocyclic or polycyclic, i.e. they can contain one ring (such as, for example, phenyl) or two or more rings, which may also be fused (such as, for example, naphthyl) or covalently bonded (such as, for example, biphenyl), or contain a combination of fused and linked rings. Heteroaryl groups contain one or more heteroatoms, preferably selected from O, N, S and Se.

(45) Particular preference is given to mono-, bi- or tricyclic aryl groups having 6 to 25 C atoms and mono-, bi- or tricyclic heteroaryl groups having 5 to 25 ring atoms, which optionally contain fused rings and are optionally substituted. Preference is furthermore given to 5-, 6- or 7-membered aryl and heteroaryl groups, in which, in addition, one or more CH groups may be replaced by N, S or O in such a way that O atoms and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another.

(46) Preferred aryl groups are, for example, phenyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, [1,1:3,1]terphenyl-2-yl, naphthyl, anthracene, binaphthyl, phenanthrene, 9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene, pyrene, dihydropyrene, chrysene, perylene, tetracene, pentacene, benzopyrene, fluorene, indene, indenofluorene, spirobifluorene, etc.

(47) Preferred heteroaryl groups are, for example, 5-membered rings, such as pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole, tetrazole, furan, thiophene, selenophene, oxazole, isoxazole, 1,2-thiazole, 1,3-thiazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,5-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole, 1,2,5-thiadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, 6-membered rings, such as pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, 1,3,5-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,2,3-triazine, 1,2,4,5-tetrazine, 1,2,3,4-tetrazine, 1,2,3,5-tetrazine, or condensed groups, such as indole, isoindole, indolizine, indazole, benzimidazole, benzotriazole, purine, naphthimidazole, phenanthrimidazole, pyridimidazole, pyrazinimidazole, quinoxalinimidazole, benzoxazole, naphthoxazole, anthroxazole, phenanthroxazole, isoxazole, benzothiazole, benzofuran, isobenzofuran, dibenzofuran, quinoline, isoquinoline, pteridine, benzo-5,6-quinoline, benzo-6,7-quinoline, benzo-7,8-quinoline, benzoisoquin-oline, acridine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzopyridazine, benzopyrimidine, quinoxaline, phenazine, naphthyridine, azacarbazole, benzocarboline, phenanthridine, phenanthroline, thieno[2,3b]thiophene, thieno[3,2b]thiophene, dithienothiophene, isobenzothiophene, dibenzothiophene, benzothiadiazothiophene, or combinations of these groups.

(48) The aryl and heteroaryl groups mentioned above and below may also be substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, fluorine, fluoroalkyl or further aryl or heteroaryl groups.

(49) The (non-aromatic) alicyclic and heterocyclic groups encompass both saturated rings, i.e. those containing exclusively single bonds, and also partially unsaturated rings, i.e. those which may also contain multiple bonds. Heterocyclic rings contain one or more heteroatoms, preferably selected from Si, O, N, S and Se.

(50) The (non-aromatic) alicyclic and heterocyclic groups can be monocyclic, i.e. contain only one ring (such as, for example, cyclohexane), or polycyclic, i.e. contain a plurality of rings (such as, for example, decahydronaphthalene or bicyclooctane). Particular preference is given to saturated groups. Preference is furthermore given to mono-, bi- or tricyclic groups having 5 to 25 ring atoms, which optionally contain fused rings and are optionally substituted. Preference is furthermore given to 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered carbocyclic groups, in which, in addition, one or more C atoms may be replaced by Si and/or one or more CH groups may be replaced by N and/or one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O and/or S.

(51) Preferred alicyclic and heterocyclic groups are, for example, 5-membered groups, such as cyclopentane, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrothiofuran, pyrrolidine, 6-membered groups, such as cyclohexane, silinane, cyclohexene, tetrahydropyran, tetrahydrothiopyran, 1,3-dioxane, 1,3-dithiane, piperidine, 7-membered groups, such as cycloheptane, and fused groups, such as tetrahydronaphthalene, decahydronaphthalene, indane, bicyclo[1.1.1]-pentane-1,3-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-diyl, spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-diyl, octahydro-4,7-methanoindane-2,5-diyl.

(52) Preferred substituents are, for example, solubility-promoting groups, such as alkyl or alkoxy, electron-withdrawing groups, such as fluorine, nitro or nitrile, or substituents for increasing the glass transition temperature (Tg) in the polymer, in particular bulky groups, such as, for example, t-butyl or optionally substituted aryl groups.

(53) Preferred substituents, hereinafter also referred to as L.sup.S, are, for example, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO.sub.2, NCO, NCS, OCN, SCN, C(P)N(R.sup.x).sub.2, C(O)Y.sup.1, C(P)R.sup.x, N(R.sup.x).sub.2, straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy each having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms may optionally be replaced by F or Cl, optionally substituted silyl having 1 to 20 Si atoms, or optionally substituted aryl having 6 to 25, preferably 6 to 15, C atoms,

(54) wherein R.sup.x denotes H, F, Cl, CN, or straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a manner that O- and/or S-atoms are not directly connected with each other, and wherein one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F, Cl, P or P-Sp-, and

(55) Y.sup.1 denotes halogen.

(56) Substituted silyl or aryl preferably means substituted by halogen, CN, R.sup.0, OR.sup.0, COR.sup.0, COOR.sup.0, OCOR.sup.0 or OCOOR.sup.0, wherein R.sup.0 denotes H or alkyl with 1 to 20 C atoms.

(57) Particularly preferred substituents L are, for example, F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2H.sub.5, COCH.sub.3, COC.sub.2H.sub.5, COOCH.sub.3, COOC.sub.2H.sub.5, CF.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, OCHF.sub.2, OC.sub.2F.sub.5, furthermore phenyl.

(58) ##STR00004##
is preferably

(59) ##STR00005##

(60) in which L has one of the meanings indicated above.

(61) The polymerisable group P or P.sup.1,2 is a group which is suitable for a polymerisation reaction, such as, for example, free-radical or ionic chain polymerisation, polyaddition or polycondensation, or for a polymer-analogous reaction, for example addition or condensation onto a main polymer chain. Particular preference is given to groups for chain polymerisation, in particular those containing a CC double bond or CC triple bond, and groups which are suitable for polymerisation with ring opening, such as, for example, oxetane or epoxide groups.

(62) Preferred groups P and P.sup.1,2 are selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2CW.sup.1COO, CH.sub.2CW.sup.1CO,

(63) ##STR00006##
CH.sub.2CW.sup.2(O).sub.k3, CW.sup.1CHCO(O).sub.k3, CW.sup.1CHCONH, CH.sub.2CW.sup.1CONH, CH.sub.3CHCHO, (CH.sub.2CH).sub.2CHOCO, (CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2).sub.2CHOCO, (CH.sub.2CH).sub.2CHO, (CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2).sub.2N, (CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2).sub.2NCO, HOCW.sup.2W.sup.3, HSCW.sup.2W.sup.3, HW.sup.2N, HOCW.sup.2W.sup.3NH, CH.sub.2CW.sup.1CONH, CH.sub.2CH(COO).sub.k1-Phe-(O).sub.k2, CH.sub.2CH(CO).sub.k1-Phe-(O).sub.k2, Phe-CHCH, HOOC, OCN and W.sup.4W.sup.5W.sup.6Si, in which W.sup.1 denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF.sub.3, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5, W.sup.2 and W.sup.3 each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, W.sup.4, W.sup.5 and W.sup.6 each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, W.sup.7 and W.sup.8 each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1,4-phenylene, which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals L as defined above which are other than P-Sp-, k.sub.1, k.sub.2 and k.sub.3 each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1, k.sub.3 preferably denotes 1, and k.sub.4 denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

(64) Very preferred groups P and P.sup.1,2 are selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2CW.sup.1COO, CH.sub.2CW.sup.1CO,

(65) ##STR00007##

(66) CH.sub.2CW.sup.2O, CH.sub.2CW.sup.2, CW.sup.1CHCO(O).sub.k3, CW.sup.1CHCONH, CH.sub.2CW.sup.1CONH, (CH.sub.2CH).sub.2CHOCO, (CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2).sub.2CHOCO, (CH.sub.2CH).sub.2CHO, (CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2).sub.2N, (CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2).sub.2NCO, CH.sub.2CW.sup.1CONH, CH.sub.2CH(COO).sub.k1-Phe-(O).sub.k2, CH.sub.2CH(CO).sub.k1-Phe-(O).sub.k2, Phe-CHCH and W.sup.4W.sup.5W.sup.6Si, in which W.sup.1 denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF.sub.3, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5, W.sup.2 and W.sup.3 each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, W.sup.4, W.sup.5 and W.sup.6 each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, W.sup.7 and W.sup.8 each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1,4-phenylene, k.sub.1, k.sub.2 and k.sub.3 each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1, k.sub.3 preferably denotes 1, and k.sub.4 denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

(67) Very particularly preferred groups P and P.sup.1,2 are selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2CW.sup.1COO, in particular CH.sub.2CHCOO, CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3)COO and CH.sub.2CFCOO, furthermore CH.sub.2CHO, (CH.sub.2CH).sub.2CH-OCO, (CH.sub.2CH).sub.2CHO,

(68) ##STR00008##

(69) Further preferred polymerisable groups P and P.sup.1,2 are selected from the group consisting of vinyloxy, acrylate, methacrylate, ethacrylate, fluoroacrylate, chloroacrylate, oxetane and epoxide, most preferably from acrylate and methacrylate.

(70) If Sp or Sp.sup.1,2 is different from a single bond, it is preferably selected of the formula Sp-X, so that the respective radical P-Sp- conforms to the formula P-Sp-X, wherein Sp denotes alkylene having 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 12, C atoms, which is optionally mono- or polysubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I or CN and in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by O, S, NH, N(R.sup.0), Si(R.sup.0R.sup.00), CO, COO, OCO, OCOO, SCO, COS, N(R.sup.00)COO, OCON(R.sup.0), N(R.sup.0)CON(R.sup.0), CHCH or CC in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, X denotes O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO, CON(R.sup.0), N(R.sup.0)CO, N(R.sup.0)CON(R.sup.00), OCH.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, SCH.sub.2, CH.sub.2S, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CF.sub.2S, SCF.sub.2, CF.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CF.sub.2, CF.sub.2CF.sub.2, CHN, NCH, NN, CHCR.sup.0, CY.sup.2CY.sup.3, CC, CHCHCOO, OCOCHCH or a single bond, R.sup.0 and R.sup.00 each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 20 C atoms, and

(71) Y.sup.2 and Y.sup.3 each, independently of one another, denote H, F, Cl or CN.

(72) X is preferably O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO, CONR.sup.0, NR.sup.0CO, NR.sup.0CONR.sup.00 or a single bond.

(73) Typical spacer groups Sp, Sp.sup.1,2 and -Sp-X are, for example, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.q1CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2SCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or (SiR.sup.0R.sup.00O).sub.p1, in which p1 is an integer from 1 to 12, q1 is an integer from 1 to 3, and R.sup.0 and R.sup.00 have the meanings indicated above.

(74) Particularly preferred groups Sp, Sp.sup.1,2 and -Sp-X are (CH.sub.2).sub.p1, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1O, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1OCO, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1COO, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1OCOO, in which p1 and q1 have the meanings indicated above.

(75) Particularly preferred groups Sp are, in each case straight-chain, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene, dodecylene, octadecylene, ethyleneoxyethylene, methyleneoxybutylene, ethylenethioethylene, ethylene-N-methylimino-ethylene, 1-methylalkylene, ethenylene, propenylene and butenylene.

(76) The LC medium according to the present invention contains a polymerisable component A) comprising one or more first polymerisable compounds with a polymerisable group and a bi- or polycylic hydrocarbon group, one or more second polymerisable compounds comprising a polymerisable group and a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic hydrocarbon group, and one or more third polymerisable compounds comprising a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic hydrocarbon group and attached thereto two polymerisable groups that are different from each other.

(77) The hydrocarbon group contained in the first, second and third polymerisable compounds is preferably a non-aromatic group.

(78) In a first preferred embodiment the present invention the bi- or polycyclic hydrocarbon group in the first polymerisable compound is a bridged bi- or polycyclic hydrocarbon group, i.e. which consists of fused hydrocarbon rings, preferably fused cycloalkyl rings, where fusion occurs across a sequence of atoms (bridgehead), preferably a bipodal bridge, like in bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (norbornane), bicyclo[2.2.2]octane or tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decane (adamantane).

(79) In a second preferred embodiment the present invention the bi- or polycyclic hydrocarbon group in the first polymerisable compounds is a fused bi- or polycyclic hydrocarbon group, i.e. which consists of fused hydrocarbon rings, preferably fused cycloalkyl rings, where fusion occurs across a bond between two atoms, like in bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane or bicyclo[4.4.0]decane (decalin).

(80) In a third preferred embodiment the present invention the bi- or polycyclic hydrocarbon group in the first polymerisable compounds is a spirocyclic group, i.e. which consists of fused hydrocarbon rings, preferably fused cycloalkyl rings, where fusion occurs at a single atom (spiro atom), like in spiro[3.3]heptane or spiro[4.5]decane.

(81) The bi- or polycyclic group os optionally substituted by one or more substituents. Preferred substituents are the groups L and L.sup.S as defined above and below.

(82) Preferably the bi- or polycyclic group is selected from the group consisting of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.2]decyl, bicyclo[3.3.3]undecyl, tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decyl (adamantyl), tricyclo[5.2.1.0]decyl (tetrahydrodicyclopentadiyl), bicyclo[2.1.0]pentyl, bicyclo[2.2.0]hexyl, bicyclo[3.2.0]heptyl, bicyclo[4.2.0]octyl, bicyclo[3.3.0]octyl, bicyclo[4.3.0]nonyl, bicyclo[4.4.0]decyl (decalin), spiro[2.2]pentyl, spiro[3.2]hexyl, spiro[3.3]heptyl, spiro[4.3]octyl, spiro[4.4]nonyl, spiro[4.5]decyl, all of which are optionally substituted by one or more groups L or L.sup.S as defined above and below.

(83) Very preferably the bi- or polycyclic group is selected from the group consisting of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.2]decyl, bicyclo[3.3.3]undecyl, tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decyl (adamantyl), all of which are optionally substituted by one or more groups L or L.sup.S as defined above and below.

(84) Most preferably the bi- or polycyclic group is selected from the group consisting of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decyl (adamantyl), all of which are optionally substituted by one or more groups L or L.sup.S as defined above and below.

(85) Preferably component A) of the LC medium comprises one or more first polymerisable compounds selected from formula I
P-Sp-G.sup.1I

(86) wherein

(87) P is a polymerisable group,

(88) Sp is a spacer group or a single bond, G.sup.1 is a bi-, tri- or tetracyclic hydrocarbon group, preferably a bridged or fused bi-, tri- or or tetracyclic alkyl group, having 6 to 20 ring atoms which is optionally substituted by one or more groups L, L is F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, NCO, NCS, OCN, SCN, C(O)N(R.sup.x).sub.2, C(O)Y.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.x, N(R.sup.x).sub.2, optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl having 5 to 20 ring atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25, particularly preferably 1 to 10, C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by CIR.sup.0)C(R.sup.00), CC, N(R.sup.0), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN, R.sup.x is H, F, Cl, CN, or straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, wherein one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a manner that O- and/or S-atoms are not directly connected with each other, and wherein one or more H atoms are each optionally replaced by F or Cl, R.sup.0, R.sup.00 are H or alkyl having 1 to 20 C atoms, Y.sup.1 is halogen, preferably F or Cl.

(89) P is preferably acrylate, methacrylate or oxetane, very preferably acrylate or methacrylate.

(90) Sp is preferably of the formula Sp-X, so that the respective radical P-Sp-conforms to the formula P-Sp-X, wherein Sp and X are as defined above.

(91) Sp is very preferably- are (CH.sub.2).sub.p1, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1O, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1OCO, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1COO, (CH.sub.2).sub.p1OCOO, in which p1 is an integer from 1 to 12.

(92) L is preferably is selected from F, Cl, CN and straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25, particularly preferably 1 to 10, C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by C(R.sup.0)C(R.sup.00), CC, N(R.sup.0), O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, Br, I or CN.

(93) L is very preferably selected from F, CN, and alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 6 C atoms that is optionally fluorinated, preferably F, Cl, CN, CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, OCF.sub.2H or OCFH.sub.2, very preferably F.

(94) G.sup.1 is preferably selected the group consisting of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl,bicyclo[3.3.2]decyl, bicyclo[3.3.3]undecyl, tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decyl (adamantyl), tricyclo[5.2.1.0]decyl (tetrahydrodicyclopentadiyl), bicyclo[2.1.0]pentyl, bicyclo[2.2.0]hexyl, bicyclo[3.2.0]heptyl, bicyclo[4.2.0]octyl, bicyclo[3.3.0]octyl, bicyclo[4.3.0]nonyl, bicyclo[4.4.0]decyl (decalin), spiro[2.2]pentyl, spiro[3.2]hexyl, spiro[3.3]heptyl, spiro[4.3]octyl, spiro[4.4]nonyl, spiro[4.5]decyl, all of which are optionally substituted by one or more groups L.

(95) G.sup.1 is very preferably selected from the group consisting of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl, bicyclo[3.3.2]decyl, bicyclo[3.3.3]undecyl, tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decyl (adamantyl), all of which are optionally substituted by one or more groups L.

(96) G.sup.1 is most preferably selected from the group consisting of, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl (norbornyl), bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, tricyclo[3.3.3.1]decyl (adamantyl) all of which are optionally substituted by one or more groups L.

(97) Preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following formulae

(98) ##STR00009##

(99) wherein R on each occurrence identically or differently denotes P-Sp- or has one of the meanings given for R.sup.x above, and at least one of the groups R in each of formulae IA-IC denotes P-Sp-.

(100) Further preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following formulae

(101) ##STR00010##

(102) wherein P and Sp have the meanings given in formula I or one of the preferred meanings given above, W.sup.11, W.sup.12 and W.sup.13 are independently of each other H, F or C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, preferably methyl, and the cycloalkyl groups are optionally substituted with one or more groups L as defined above.

(103) Very preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following formulae

(104) ##STR00011##

(105) wherein n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 8, W is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5 and W.sup.11, W.sup.12 and W.sup.13 are H, F or C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, preferably methyl.

(106) Further preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the following formulae

(107) ##STR00012## ##STR00013##

(108) Preferably component A) of the LC medium comprises one or more second polymerisable compounds selected of formula II
P-Sp-G.sup.2II

(109) wherein

(110) P and Sp have the meanings given in formula I or one of the preferred meanings given above and below for formula IIA, and

(111) G.sup.2 is a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic alkyl group with 1 to 20 C atoms that is optionally mono-, poly- or perfluorinated and is optionally substituted by one or more groups L as defined in formula I, and wherein one or more CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, CO, OCO or COO such that O-atoms are not directly adjacent to one another.

(112) Preferred compounds of formula II are selected from the following formulae

(113) ##STR00014##

(114) wherein the individual radicals, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, have the following meanings P, Sp have the meanings given in formula I or one of the preferred meanings given above and below, W.sup.11, W.sup.12 are H, F or straight chain or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, W.sup.13, W.sup.14 are H or F, n1 is an integer from 2 to 15, n2, n3 are 0 or an integer from 1 to 3, n5 an integer from 1 to 5, n6, n7 0 or an integer from 1 to 15.

(115) Very preferred compounds of formula II are selected from the following formulae

(116) ##STR00015##

(117) wherein W is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5, and W.sup.11, W.sup.12, W.sup.13, W.sup.14, n1, n2, n3, n5, n6 and n7 are as defined in formula II1-II5, n4 is 0 or an integer from 1 to 15, s is 0 or 1, and if s is 1 then n4 is not 0.

(118) Further preferred compounds of formula II are selected from the following formulae

(119) ##STR00016## ##STR00017## ##STR00018##

(120) In the third polymerisable compounds, the polymerisable groups are preferably selected from acrylate, methacrylate, ethacrylate and vinyloxy groups. Very preferably one of the polymerisable groups is vinyloxy and the other is acrylate or methacrylate, most preferably methacrylate.

(121) Preferably component A) of the LC medium comprises one or more third polymerisable compounds selected of formula III
P.sup.1-Sp.sup.1-G.sup.3-Sp.sup.2-P.sup.2III

(122) wherein P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 denote polymerisable groups that are different from each other, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 denote independently of each other identical or different spacer groups or a single bond, G.sup.3 is a straight-chain, branched or monocyclic alkyl group with 1 to 20 C atoms that is optionally mono-, poly- or perfluorinated and is optionally substituted by one or more groups L as defined in formula I, and wherein one or more CH.sub.2-groups are optionally replaced by O, CO, OCO or COO such that O-atoms are not directly adjacent to one another.

(123) P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 are preferably selected from acrylate, methacrylate, ethacrylate, and vinyloxy groups. Very preferably one of P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 in formula III is vinyloxy and the other is acrylate, methacrylate or ethacrylate, most preferably methacrylate.

(124) Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 in formula III preferably denote a single bond.

(125) Preferred compounds of formula III are selected from the following formulae

(126) ##STR00019##

(127) wherein P.sup.1, P.sup.2, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 are as defined in formula III, W.sup.11 is, on each occurrence identically or differently, H, F or C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, n1 is an integer from 2 to 15, n2, n3 are independently of each other 0 or an integer from 1 to 3, n4 is 0 or an integer from 1 to 15,

(128) and the cyclohexylene ring in formula III2 is optionally substituted by one or more identical or different groups W.sup.11.

(129) Very preferred compounds of formula III are selected from the following formulae

(130) ##STR00020##

(131) wherein W is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5 and W.sup.11, n1, n2, n3 and n4 are as defined in formula III1-III3, and the cyclohexylene ring in formula III2a is optionally substituted by one or more identical or different groups W.sup.11.

(132) Further preferred compounds of formula III are selected from the following formulae

(133) ##STR00021## ##STR00022## ##STR00023##

(134) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention component A) of the LC medium additionally comprises one or more fourth polymerisable compounds comprising a ring system containing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic rings or condensed aroamtic or heteroaromatic rings, and attached thereto two polymerisable groups that are different from each other.

(135) These compounds are preferably selected from formula IV
P.sup.1-Sp.sup.1-B.sup.1(Z.sup.bB.sup.2).sub.m-Sp.sup.2-P.sup.2IV

(136) in which P.sup.1, P.sup.2, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 are as defined in formula III, B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 are independently of each other, and on each occurrence identically or differently, an aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic group, preferably having 4 to 25 ring atoms, which may also contain fused rings, and which is unsubstituted, or mono- or polysubstituted by L as defined in formula I, wherein at least one of B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 denotes an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, Z.sup.b is, on each occurrence identically or differently, O, S, CO, COO, OCO, OCOO, OCH.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, SCH.sub.2, CH.sub.2S, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CF.sub.2S, SCF.sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.n11, CF.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CF.sub.2, (CF.sub.2).sub.n11, CHCH, CFCF, CC, CHCHCOO, OCOCHCH, CR.sup.0R.sup.00 or a single bond, R.sup.0 and R.sup.00 each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, m denotes 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, n11 denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4,

(137) Particularly preferred compounds of formula IV are those in which B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, naphthalene-1,4-diyl, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, 9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, anthracene-2,7-diyl, fluorene-2,7-diyl, coumarine, flavone, where, in addition, one or more CH groups in these groups may be replaced by N, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O and/or S, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane-1,3-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-diyl, spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-diyl, piperidine-1,4-diyl, decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, indane-2,5-diyl or octahydro-4,7-methanoindane-2,5-diyl, where all these groups may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by L as defined above.

(138) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula IV are those in which B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, naphthalene-1,4-diyl or naphthalene-2,6-diyl.

(139) Further preferred compounds of formula IV are selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(140) ##STR00024## ##STR00025##

(141) in which P.sup.1, P.sup.2, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2 and L are as defined in formula IV, Z.sup.1 is O, CO, C(R.sup.yR.sup.z) or CF.sub.2CF.sub.2, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3 are independently of each other COO, OCO, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2 or (CH.sub.2).sub.n11, where n11 is 2, 3 or 4, R.sup.y and R.sup.z are independently of each other H, F, CH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3, r is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, s is 0, 1, 2 or 3, t is 0, 1 or 2.

(142) Especially preferred are direactive compounds of formula IV2 and IV3.

(143) In the compounds of formulae IV1 to IV13 the group

(144) ##STR00026##

(145) is preferably

(146) ##STR00027##

(147) wherein L on each occurrence, identically or differently, has one of the meanings given above or below, and is preferably F, Cl, CN, NO.sub.2, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5, C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)C.sub.2H.sub.5, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2H.sub.5, COCH.sub.3, COC.sub.2H.sub.5, COOCH.sub.3, COOC.sub.2H.sub.5, CF.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, OCHF.sub.2, OC.sub.2F.sub.5 or P-Sp-, very preferably F, Cl, CN, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5, OCH.sub.3, COCH.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, more preferably F, Cl, CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, COCH.sub.3, CF.sub.3 oder OCF.sub.3, especially F or CH.sub.3.

(148) Preferred compounds of formulae IV1 to IV13 are those wherein one of P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 denotes a vinyloxy group and the other denotes an acrylate, methacrylate or ethacrylate group, very preferably a methacrylate group.

(149) Further preferred compounds of formulae IV1 to IV13 are those wherein Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 are a single bond.

(150) Further preferred compounds of formulae IV1 to IV13 are those wherein one of Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 is a single bond and the other is different from a single bond.

(151) Further preferred compounds of formulae IV1 to IV13 are those wherein the group Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.3 that is different from a single bond is (CH.sub.2).sub.s1X, wherein s1 is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 2, 3, 4 or 5, and X is X is the linkage to the benzene ring and is O, OCO, COO, OCOO or a single bond.

(152) Very preferred compounds of formula IV are selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(153) ##STR00028##

(154) The concentration of the first polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula I, in the LC medium is preferably from 0.5 to 15%, very preferably from 1 to 12%, most preferably from 2 to 10%.

(155) The concentration of the second polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula II, in the LC medium is preferably from 0.5 to 15%, very preferably from 1 to 12%, most preferably from 2 to 10%.

(156) The concentration of the third polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula III, in the LC medium is preferably from 0.05 to 5%, very preferably from 0.1 to 3%, most preferably from 0.2 to 2%.

(157) The concentration of the fourth polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula IV, in the LC medium is preferably from 0.05 to 5%, very preferably from 0.1 to 3%, most preferably from 0.2 to 2%.

(158) The total concentration of the first, second, third and fourth polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula I, II, III and IV, in the LC medium is preferably from 1 to 30% by weight, very preferably from 1 to 25% by weight.

(159) In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of the first, second, third and fourth polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula I, II, III and IV, in the LC medium is from 10 to 20% by weight.

(160) In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of the first, second, third and fourth polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula I, II, III and IV, in the LC medium is from 5 to 10% by weight.

(161) In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of the first, second, third and fourth polymerisable compounds, especially those of formula I, II, III and IV, in the LC medium is from 1 to 5% by weight.

(162) In a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of the first and second polymerisable compounds, or compounds of formula I, II, III and IV in the LC medium is from 15 to 25% by weight.

(163) The ratio of first polymerisable compounds or compounds of formula I, and second polymerisable compounds or compounds of formula II, in the LC medium is preferably from 50:1 to 1:50, very preferably from 10:1 to 1:10, most preferably from 4:1 to 1:4.

(164) The concentration of first and second polymerisable compounds with (exactly) one polymerisable group, or compounds of formula I and II, in the LC medium is preferably from 5 to 30% by weight.

(165) The concentration of first and second polymerisable compounds with (exactly) two polymerisable groups, or compounds of formula III and IV, in the LC medium is preferably from 0.1 to 10%, very preferably from 0.1 to 5%, most preferably from 0.1 to 2% by weight.

(166) Particular preference is given to LC media wherein the polymerisable component A) comprises one, two or three first polymerisable compounds, preferably of formula I, one, two or three second polymerisable compounds, preferably of formula II, one, two or three third polymerisable compounds, preferably of formula III, and optionally one, two or three fourth polymerisable compounds, preferably of formula IV.

(167) Besides the polymerisable component A) as described above, the LC medium according to the present invention comprises an LC component B), or LC host mixture, comprising one or more, preferably two or more LC compounds which are selected from low-molecular-weight compounds that are unpolymerisable. These LC compounds are selected such that they stable and/or unreactive to a polymerisation reaction under the conditions applied to the polymerisation of the polymerisable compounds.

(168) Preference is given to LC media in which the LC component B), or the LC host mixture, has a nematic LC phase, and preferably has no chiral liquid crystal phase. The LC component B), or LC host mixture, is preferably a nematic LC mixture.

(169) Preference is furthermore given to achiral polymerisable compounds, and to LC media in which the compounds of component A) and/or B) are selected exclusively from the group consisting of achiral compounds.

(170) Preferably the proportion of the LC component B) in the LC medium is from 70 to 95% by weight.

(171) The LC media and LC host mixtures of the present invention preferably have a nematic phase range 80 K, very preferably 100 K, and preferably a rotational viscosity 250 mPa.Math.s, very preferably 200 mPa.Math.s, at 20 C.

(172) The birefringence n of LC media and LC host mixtures according to the invention is preferably from 0.07 to 0.15, particularly preferably from 0.08 to 0.21.

(173) In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LC medium contains an component B) or LC host mixture having a positive dielectric anisotropy .

(174) Such LC media are especially suitable for use in TN, OCB-, Posi-VA-, IPS- or FFS-displays or related modes using LC-materials with >0.

(175) The LC media and LC host mixtures according to this first preferred embodiment preferably have a positive dielectric anisotropy from +2 to +30, particularly preferably from +3 to +20, at 20 C. and 1 kHz.

(176) Particularly preferred is an LC medium of this first preferred embodiment, wherein the liquid-crystalline component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from formula A and B

(177) ##STR00029##

(178) in which the individual radicals have, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, the following meanings:

(179) ##STR00030##

(180) each, independently of one another, and on each occurrence, identically or differently

(181) ##STR00031## R.sup.21, R.sup.31 each, independently of one another, alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, X.sup.0 F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C atoms, Z.sup.31 CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CF.sub.2CF.sub.2, COO, trans-CHCH, trans-CFCF, CH.sub.2O or a single bond, preferably CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, COO, trans-CHCH or a single bond, particularly preferably COO, trans-CHCH or a single bond, L.sup.21, L.sup.22, L.sup.31, L.sup.32 each, independently of one another, H or F, g 0, 1, 2 or 3.

(182) In the compounds of formula A and B, X.sup.0 is preferably F, Cl, CF.sub.3, CHF.sub.2, OCF.sub.3, OCHF.sub.2, OCFHCF.sub.3, OCFHCHF.sub.2, OCFHCHF.sub.2, OCF.sub.2CH.sub.3, OCF.sub.2CHF.sub.2, OCF.sub.2CHF.sub.2, OCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CHF.sub.2, OCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CHF.sub.2, OCFHCF.sub.2CF.sub.3, OCFHCF.sub.2CHF.sub.2, OCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.3, OCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CCIF.sub.2, OCCIFCF.sub.2CF.sub.3 or CHCF.sub.2, very preferably F or OCF.sub.3, most preferably F.

(183) In the compounds of formula A and B, R.sup.21 and R.sup.31 are preferably selected from straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 C atoms, and straight-chain alkenyl with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 C atoms.

(184) In the compounds of formula A and B, g is preferably 1 or 2.

(185) In the compounds of formula B, Z.sup.31 is preferably COO, trans-CHCH or a single bond, very preferably COO or a single bond.

(186) Preferably component B) of the LC medium comprises one or more compounds of formula A selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(187) ##STR00032##

(188) in which A.sup.21, R.sup.21, X.sup.0, L.sup.21 and L.sup.22 have the meanings given in formula A, L.sup.23 and L.sup.24 each, independently of one another, are H or F, and X.sup.0 is preferably F. Particularly preferred are compounds of formulae A1 and A2.

(189) Particularly preferred compounds of formula A1 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(190) ##STR00033##

(191) in which R.sup.21, X.sup.0, L.sup.21 and L.sup.22 have the meaning given in formula A1, L.sup.23, L.sup.24, L.sup.25 and L.sup.26 are each, independently of one another, H or F, and X.sup.0 is preferably F.

(192) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula A1 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(193) ##STR00034## ##STR00035##

(194) in which R.sup.21 is as defined in formula A1.

(195) Particularly preferred compounds of formula A2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(196) ##STR00036## ##STR00037##

(197) in which R.sup.21, X.sup.0, L.sup.21 and L.sup.22 have the meaning given in formula A2, L.sup.23, L.sup.24, L.sup.25, L.sup.26, L.sup.27 and L.sup.28 each, independently of one another, are H or F, and X.sup.0 is preferably F.

(198) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula A2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(199) ##STR00038## ##STR00039##

(200) in which R.sup.21 and X are as defined in formula A2.

(201) Particularly preferred compounds of formula A3 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(202) ##STR00040##

(203) in which R.sup.21, X.sup.0, L.sup.21 and L.sup.22 have the meaning given in formula A3, and X.sup.0 is preferably F.

(204) Particularly preferred compounds of formula A4 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(205) ##STR00041##

(206) in which R.sup.21 is as defined in formula A4.

(207) Preferably component B) of the LC medium comprises one or more compounds of formula B selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(208) ##STR00042##

(209) in which g, A.sup.31, A.sup.32, R.sup.31, X.sup.0, L.sup.31 and L.sup.32 have the meanings given in formula B, and X.sup.0 is preferably F. Particularly preferred are compounds of formulae B1 and B2.

(210) Particularly preferred compounds of formula B1 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(211) ##STR00043##

(212) in which R.sup.31, X.sup.0, L.sup.31 and L.sup.32 have the meaning given in formula B1, and X.sup.0 is preferably F.

(213) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B1a are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(214) ##STR00044##

(215) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B1.

(216) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B1b are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(217) ##STR00045##

(218) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B1.

(219) Particularly preferred compounds of formula B2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(220) ##STR00046## ##STR00047##

(221) in which R.sup.31, X.sup.0, L.sup.31 and L.sup.32 have the meaning given in formula B2, L.sup.33, L.sup.34, L.sup.35 and L.sup.36 are each, independently of one another, H or F, and X.sup.0 is preferably F.

(222) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(223) ##STR00048##

(224) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(225) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2b are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae

(226) ##STR00049##

(227) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(228) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2c are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(229) ##STR00050##

(230) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(231) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2d and B2e are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(232) ##STR00051##

(233) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(234) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2f are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(235) ##STR00052##

(236) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(237) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2g are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(238) ##STR00053##

(239) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(240) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2h are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(241) ##STR00054##

(242) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(243) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2i are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(244) ##STR00055##

(245) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(246) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B2k are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(247) ##STR00056##

(248) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(249) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula B21 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(250) ##STR00057##

(251) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B2.

(252) Alternatively to, or in addition to, the compounds of formula B1 and/or B2 component B) of the LC medium may also comprise one or more compounds of formula B3 as defined above.

(253) Particularly preferred compounds of formula B3 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(254) ##STR00058##

(255) in which R.sup.31 is as defined in formula B3.

(256) Preferably component B) of the LC medium comprises, in addition to the compounds of formula A and/or B, one or more compounds of formula C

(257) ##STR00059##

(258) in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

(259) ##STR00060##

(260) each, independently of one another, and on each occurrence, identically or differently

(261) ##STR00061## R.sup.41, R.sup.42 each, independently of one another, alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, Z.sup.41, Z.sup.42 each, independently of one another, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, COO, trans-CHCH, trans-CFCF, CH.sub.2O, CF.sub.2O, CC or a single bond, preferably a single bond, h 0,1,2 or 3.

(262) In the compounds of formula C, R.sup.41 and R.sup.42 are preferably selected from straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 C atoms, and straight-chain alkenyl with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 C atoms.

(263) In the compounds of formula C, h is preferably 0, 1 or 2.

(264) In the compounds of formula C, Z.sup.41 and Z.sup.42 are preferably selected from COO, trans-CHCH and a single bond, very preferably from COO and a single bond.

(265) Preferred compounds of formula C are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(266) ##STR00062## ##STR00063##

(267) wherein R.sup.41 and R.sup.42 have the meanings given in formula C, and preferably denote each, independently of one another, alkyl, alkoxy, fluorinated alkyl or fluorinated alkoxy with 1 to 7 C atoms, or alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkoxyalkyl or fluorinated alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms.

(268) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention component B) of the LC medium comprises, in addition to the compounds of formula A and/or B, one or more compounds of formula D

(269) ##STR00064##

(270) in which A.sup.41, A.sup.42, Z.sup.41, Z.sup.42, R.sup.41, R.sup.42 and h have the meanings given in formula C or one of the preferred meanings given above.

(271) Preferred compounds of formula D are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(272) ##STR00065##

(273) in which R.sup.41 and R.sup.42 have the meanings given in formula D and R.sup.41 preferably denotes alkyl bedeutet, and in formula D1 R.sup.42 preferably denotes alkenyl, particularly preferably (CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCHCH.sub.3, and in formula D2 R.sup.42 preferably denotes alkyl, (CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH.sub.2 or (CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCHCH.sub.3.

(274) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention component B) of the LC medium comprises, in addition to the compounds of formula A and/or B, one or more compounds of formula E containing an alkenyl group

(275) ##STR00066##

(276) in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

(277) ##STR00067## R.sup.A1 alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X and Y denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R.sup.A2, R.sup.A2 alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, x 1 or 2.

(278) R.sup.A2 is preferably straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 8 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 7 C atoms.

(279) Preferred compounds of formula E are selected from the following sub-formulae:

(280) ##STR00068##

(281) in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(282) Very preferred compounds of the formula E are selected from the following sub-formulae:

(283) ##STR00069##

(284) in which m denotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, i denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, and R.sup.b1 denotes H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5.

(285) Very particularly preferred compounds of the formula E are selected from the following sub-formulae:

(286) ##STR00070##

(287) Most preferred are compounds of formula E1a2, E1a5, E3a1 and E6a1.

(288) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention component B) of the LC medium comprises, in addition to the compounds of formula A and/or B, one or more compounds of formula F

(289) ##STR00071##

(290) in which the individual radicals have, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, the following meanings:

(291) ##STR00072##

(292) denote

(293) ##STR00073## R.sup.21 alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl, each having 1 to 9 C atoms, or alkenyl or alkenyloxy, each having 2 to 9 C atoms, wherein all the aforementioned groups are optionally fluorinated, X.sup.0 F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C atoms, Z.sup.21 CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CF.sub.2CF.sub.2, COO, trans-CHCH, trans-CFCF, CH.sub.2O or a single bond, preferably CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, COO, trans-CHCH or a single bond, particularly preferably COO, trans-CHCH or a single bond, L.sup.21, L.sup.22, L.sup.23, L.sup.24 each, independently of one another, H or F, g 0, 1, 2 or 3.

(294) Particularly preferred compounds of formula F are selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(295) ##STR00074##

(296) in which R.sup.21, X.sup.0, L.sup.21 and L.sup.22 have the meaning given in formula F, L.sup.25, L.sup.26, L.sup.27 and L.sup.28 are each, independently of one another, H or F, and X.sup.0 is preferably F.

(297) Very particularly preferred compounds of formula F1-F3 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(298) ##STR00075##

(299) in which R.sup.21 is as defined in formula F1.

(300) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention component B) of the LC medium comprises, in addition to the compounds of formula A and/or B, one or more compounds of formula G containing a cyano group.

(301) ##STR00076##

(302) in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

(303) ##STR00077##

(304) each, independently of one another, and on each occurrence, identically or differently

(305) ##STR00078## R.sup.51 alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, Z.sup.51, Z.sup.52 CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, COO, trans-CHCH, trans-CFCF, CH.sub.2O, CF.sub.2O, CC or a single bond, preferably a single bond, L.sup.51, L.sup.52 each, independently of one another, H or F, i 0, 1,2 or 3.

(306) Preferred compounds of formula G are selected from the following subformulae

(307) ##STR00079## ##STR00080##

(308) in which R.sup.51 is as defined in formula G and L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are each, independently of one another, H or F.

(309) Very preferred are compounds of formula G1, G2 and G5.

(310) Preferred compounds of formula G1-G9 are those wherein L.sup.51 and L.sup.52 are F.

(311) Further preferred compounds of formula G1-G7 are those wherein L.sup.51 is F and L.sup.52 is H.

(312) Very preferred compounds of formula G are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

(313) ##STR00081##

(314) in which R.sup.51 is as defined in formula G.

(315) In the compounds of formula G, G1-G7 and their subformulae, R.sup.51 is particularly preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or alkenyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms.

(316) The concentration of the compounds of formula A and B in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 60%, very preferably from 3 to 45%, most preferably from 4 to 35%.

(317) The concentration of the compounds of formula C and D in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 70%, very preferably from 5 to 65%, most preferably from 10 to 60%.

(318) The concentration of the compounds of formula E in the LC host mixture is preferably from 5 to 50%, very preferably from 5 to 35%.

(319) The concentration of the compounds of formula F in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 30%, very preferably from 5 to 20%.

(320) Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are listed below, including any combination thereof. a) The LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula A and/or B with high positive dielectric anisotropy, preferably with >15. b) The LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of formulae A1a2, A1b1, A1d1, A1f1, A2a1, A2h1, A2I1, A2I2, A2k1, B2h3, B2I1, F1a. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 4 to 40%, very preferably from 5 to 35%. c) The LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of formulae C3, C4, C5, C9 and D2. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 8 to 70%, very preferably from 10 to 60%. d) The LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of formulae G1, G2 and G5, preferably G1a, G2a and G5a. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 4 to 40%, very preferably from 5 to 35%. e) The LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of formulae E1, E3 and E6, preferably E1a, E3a and E6a, very preferably E1a2, E1a5, E3a1 and E6a1. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 5 to 60%, very preferably from 10 to 50%.

(321) In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LC medium contains an component B) or LC host mixture having a negative dielectric anisotropy .

(322) Such LC media are especially suitable for use in VA, IPS and UB-FFS displays or related modes using LC-materials with <0.

(323) The LC media and LC host mixtures according to this second preferred embodiment preferably have a negative dielectric anisotropy from 0.5 to 10, very preferably from 2.5 to 7.5, at 20 C. and 1 kHz.

(324) Particularly preferred embodiments of an LC medium according to this second preferred embodiment are those of sections a)-z2) below: a) LC medium wherein the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from formulae CY and PY:

(325) ##STR00082## wherein a denotes 1 or 2, b denotes 0 or 1,

(326) ##STR00083##

(327) denotes

(328) ##STR00084## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms, Z.sup.x and Z.sup.y each, independently of one another, denote CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CHCH, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, CFCF, CHCHCH.sub.2O or a single bond, preferably a single bond, L.sup.1-4 each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F, CHF.sub.2.

(329) Preferably, both L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 denote F or one of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 denotes F and the other denotes Cl, or both L.sup.3 and L.sup.4 denote F or one of L.sup.3 and L.sup.4 denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

(330) The compounds of the formula CY are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(331) ##STR00085## ##STR00086## ##STR00087## ##STR00088## in which a denotes 1 or 2, alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms, and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2. Especially preferred are compounds selected from formulae CY2, CY8, CY10 and CY16.

(332) The compounds of the formula PY are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(333) ##STR00089## ##STR00090## ##STR00091## in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms, and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2. Especially preferred are compounds selected from formulae PY2, PY8, PY10 and PY16. Preferably the concentration of the compounds of formula CY and PY and their subformulae in the LC medium is from 10 to 70% by weight, very preferably from 15 to 50% by weight. Preferably the concentration of the compounds of formula CY and its subformulae in the LC medium is from 2 to 40% by weight, very preferably from 3 to 30% by weight. Preferably the concentration of the compounds of formula PY and its subformulae in the LC medium is from 2 to 50% by weight, very preferably from 3 to 40% by weight. b) LC medium wherein the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more mesogenic or LC compounds comprising an alkenyl group (hereinafter also referred to as alkenyl compounds), wherein said alkenyl group is stable to a polymerisation reaction under the conditions used for polymerisation of the polymerisable compounds contained in the LC medium.

(334) Preferably the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more alkenyl compounds selected from formulae AN and AY

(335) ##STR00092##

(336) in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

(337) ##STR00093## R.sup.A1 alkenyl having 2 to 9 C atoms or, if at least one of the rings X, Y and Z denotes cyclohexenyl, also one of the meanings of R.sup.A2, R.sup.A2 alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z.sup.x CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CHCH, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, CFCF, CHCHCH.sub.2O, or a single bond, preferably a single bond, L.sup.1-4 H, F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F or CHF.sub.2H, preferably H, F or Cl, x 1 or 2, z 0 or 1.

(338) Preferred compounds of formula AN and AY are those wherein R.sup.A2 is selected from ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl and heptenyl.

(339) In a preferred embodiment the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula AN selected from the following sub-formulae:

(340) ##STR00094## ##STR00095##

(341) in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(342) Preferably the the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from formulae AN1, AN2, AN3 and AN6, very preferably one or more compounds of formula AN1.

(343) In another preferred embodiment the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula AN selected from the following sub-formulae:

(344) ##STR00096##

(345) in which m denotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, i denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, and R.sup.b1 denotes H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5.

(346) In another preferred embodiment the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds selected from the following sub-formulae:

(347) ##STR00097##

(348) Most preferred are compounds of formula AN1a2 and AN1a5.

(349) In another preferred embodiment the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula AY selected from the following sub-formulae:

(350) ##STR00098## ##STR00099## ##STR00100## ##STR00101##

(351) in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O) denotes an O-atom or a single bond, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(352) In another preferred embodiment the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula AY selected from the following sub-formulae:

(353) ##STR00102##

(354) in which m and n each, independently of one another, denote 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and alkenyl denotes CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(355) Preferably the proportion of compounds of formula AN and AY in the LC medium is from 2 to 70% by weight, very preferably from 5 to 60% by weight, most preferably from 10 to 50% by weight.

(356) Preferably the LC medium or LC host mixture contains 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3 compounds selected from formulae AN and AY.

(357) In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC medium comprises one or more compounds of formula AY14, very preferably of AY14a. The proportion of compounds of formula AY14 or AY14a in the LC medium is preferably 3 to 20% by weight.

(358) The addition of alkenyl compounds of formula AN and/or AY enables a reduction of the viscosity and response time of the LC medium. c) LC medium wherein the component B) or LC host mixture comprises one or more compounds of the following formula:

(359) ##STR00103##

(360) in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

(361) ##STR00104##

(362) denotes

(363) ##STR00105##

(364) denotes

(365) ##STR00106## R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z.sup.y denotes CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CHCH, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, CFCF, CHCHCH.sub.2O or a single bond, preferably a single bond.

(366) The compounds of the formula ZK are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(367) ##STR00107## ##STR00108## in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2. Especially preferred are compounds of formula ZK1. Particularly preferred compounds of formula ZK are selected from the following sub-formulae:

(368) ##STR00109##

(369) wherein the propyl, butyl and pentyl groups are straight-chain groups.

(370) Most preferred are compounds of formula ZK1a. d) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds of the following formula:

(371) ##STR00110##

(372) in which the individual radicals on each occurrence, identically or differently, have the following meanings: R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms,

(373) ##STR00111##

(374) denotes

(375) ##STR00112##

(376) denotes

(377) ##STR00113##

(378) and e denotes 1 or 2. The compounds of the formula DK are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(379) ##STR00114## ##STR00115##

(380) in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl preferably denotes CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2. e) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds of the following formula:

(381) ##STR00116##

(382) in which the individual radicals have the following meanings:

(383) ##STR00117##

(384) denotes

(385) ##STR00118##

(386) with at least one ring F being different from cyclohexylene, f denotes 1 or 2, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, Z.sup.x denotes CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CHCH, CF.sub.2O, OCF.sub.2, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, CFCF, CHCHCH.sub.2O or a single bond, preferably a single bond, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F, CHF.sub.2.

(387) Preferably, both radicals L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 denote F or one of the radicals L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

(388) The compounds of the formula LY are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(389) ##STR00119## ##STR00120## ##STR00121##

(390) in which R.sup.1 has the meaning indicated above, alkyl denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, and v denotes an integer from 1 to 6. R.sup.1 preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in particular CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5, n-C.sub.3H.sub.7, n-C.sub.4H.sub.9, n-C.sub.5H.sub.11, CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2. f) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(391) ##STR00122##

(392) in which alkyl denotes C.sub.1-6-alkyl, Lx denotes H or F, and X denotes F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, OCHF.sub.2 or OCHCF.sub.2. Particular preference is given to compounds of the formula G1 in which X denotes F. g) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(393) ##STR00123## ##STR00124## in which R.sup.5 has one of the meanings indicated above for R.sup.1, alkyl denotes C.sub.1-6-alkyl, d denotes 0 or 1, and z and m each, independently of one another, denote an integer from 1 to 6. R.sup.5 in these compounds is particularly preferably C.sub.1-6-alkyl or -alkoxy or C.sub.2-6-alkenyl, d is preferably 1. The LC medium according to the invention preferably comprises one or more compounds of the above-mentioned formulae in amounts of 5% by weight. h) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more biphenyl compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(394) ##STR00125##

(395) in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2-, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(396) The proportion of the biphenyls of the formulae B1 to B3 in the LC host mixture is preferably at least 3% by weight, in particular 5% by weight.

(397) The compounds of the formula B2 are particularly preferred.

(398) The compounds of the formulae B1 to B3 are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(399) ##STR00126##

(400) in which alkyl* denotes an alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms. The medium according to the invention particularly preferably comprises one or more compounds of the formulae B1a and/or B2c. i) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more terphenyl compounds of the following formula:

(401) ##STR00127##

(402) in which R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each, independently of one another, have one of the meanings indicated above, and

(403) ##STR00128##

(404) each, independently of one another, denote

(405) ##STR00129##

(406) in which L.sup.5 denotes F or Cl, preferably F, and L.sup.6 denotes F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F or CHF.sub.2, preferably F.

(407) The compounds of the formula T are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(408) ##STR00130## ##STR00131## ##STR00132##

(409) in which R denotes a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1-7 C atoms, R* denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, and m denotes an integer from 1 to 6. R* preferably denotes CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(410) R preferably denotes methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy or pentoxy.

(411) The LC host mixture according to the invention preferably comprises the terphenyls of the formula T and the preferred sub-formulae thereof in an amount of 0.5-30% by weight, in particular 1-20% by weight.

(412) Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae T1, T2, T3 and T21. In these compounds, R preferably denotes alkyl, furthermore alkoxy, each having 1-5 C atoms. The terphenyls are preferably employed in LC media according to the invention if the n value of the mixture is to be 0.1. Preferred LC media comprise 2-20% by weight of one or more terphenyl compounds of the formula T, preferably selected from the group of compounds T1 to T22. k) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more quaterphenyl compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(413) ##STR00133##

(414) wherein R.sup.Q is alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, X.sup.Q is F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C atoms, L.sup.Q1 to L.sup.Q6 independently of each other are H or F, with at least one of L.sup.Q1 to L.sup.Q6 being F.

(415) Preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein R.sup.Q denotes straight-chain alkyl with 2 to 6 C-atoms, very preferably ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl.

(416) Preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein L.sup.Q3 and L.sup.Q4 are F. Further preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein L.sup.Q3, L.sup.Q4 and one or two of L.sup.Q1 and L.sup.Q2 are F.

(417) Preferred compounds of formula Q are those wherein X.sup.Q denotes F or OCF.sub.3, very preferably F.

(418) The compounds of formula Q are preferably selected from the following subformulae

(419) ##STR00134##

(420) wherein R.sup.Q has one of the meanings of formula Q or one of its preferred meanings given above and below, and is preferably ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl.

(421) Especially preferred are compounds of formula Q1, in particular those wherein R.sup.Q is n-propyl.

(422) Preferably the proportion of compounds of formula Q in the LC host mixture is from >0 to 5% by weight, very preferably from 0.1 to 2% by weight, most preferably from 0.2 to 1.5% by weight.

(423) Preferably the LC host mixture contains 1 to 5, preferably 1 or 2 compounds of formula Q.

(424) The addition of quaterphenyl compounds of formula Q to the LC host mixture enables to reduce ODF mura, whilst maintaining high UV absorption, enabling quick and complete polymerisation, enabling strong and quick tilt angle generation, and increasing the UV stability of the LC medium.

(425) Besides, the addition of compounds of formula Q, which have positive dielectric anisotropy, to the LC medium with negative dielectric anisotropy allows a better control of the values of the dielectric constants .sub. and .sub., and in particular enables to achieve a high value of the dielectric constant .sub. while keeping the dielectric anisotropy constant, thereby reducing the kick-back voltage and reducing image sticking. I) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds of formula CC:

(426) ##STR00135##

(427) wherein R.sup.C denotes alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 9 C atoms or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 9 C atoms, all of which are optionally fluorinated, X.sup.C denotes F, Cl, halogenated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or halogenated alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 6 C atoms, L.sup.C1, L.sup.C2 independently of each other denote H or F, with at least one of L.sup.C1 and L.sup.C2 being F.

(428) Preferred compounds of formula CC are those wherein R.sup.C denotes straight-chain alkyl with 2 to 6 C-atoms, very preferably ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl.

(429) Preferred compounds of formula CC are those wherein L.sup.C1 and L.sup.C2 are F.

(430) Preferred compounds of formula CC are those wherein X.sup.C denotes F or OCF.sub.3, very preferably F.

(431) Preferred compounds of formula CC are selected from the following formula

(432) ##STR00136##

(433) wherein R.sup.C has one of the meanings of formula CC or one of its preferred meanings given above and below, and is preferably ethyl, n-propyl or n-butyl, very preferably n-propyl.

(434) Preferably the proportion of compounds of formula CC in the LC host mixture is from >0 to 10% by weight, very preferably from 0.1 to 8% by weight, most preferably from 0.2 to 5% by weight.

(435) Preferably the LC host mixture contains 1 to 5, preferably 1, 2 or 3 compounds of formula CC.

(436) The addition of compounds of formula CC, which have positive dielectric anisotropy, to the LC medium with negative dielectric anisotropy allows a better control of the values of the dielectric constants .sub. and .sub., and in particular enables to achieve a high value of the dielectric constant .sub. while keeping the dielectric anisotropy constant, thereby reducing the kick-back voltage and reducing image sticking. Besides, the addition of compounds of formula CC enables to reduce the viscosity and the response time of the LC medium. m) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(437) ##STR00137##

(438) in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the meanings indicated above and preferably each, independently of one another, denote straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms.

(439) Preferred media comprise one or more compounds selected from the formulae O1, O3 and O4. n) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds of the following formula:

(440) ##STR00138##

(441) in which

(442) ##STR00139##

(443) denotes

(444) ##STR00140##

(445) R.sup.9 denotes H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5 or n-C.sub.3H.sub.7, (F) denotes an optional fluorine substituent, and q denotes 1, 2 or 3, and R.sup.7 has one of the meanings indicated for R.sup.1, preferably in amounts of >3% by weight, in particular 5% by weight and very particularly preferably 5-30% by weight.

(446) Particularly preferred compounds of the formula Fl are selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(447) ##STR00141##

(448) in which R.sup.7 preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl, and R.sup.9 denotes CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5 or n-C.sub.3H.sub.7. Particular preference is given to the compounds of the formulae Fl1, Fl2 and Fl3. o) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(449) ##STR00142##

(450) in which R.sup.8 has the meaning indicated for R.sup.1, and alkyl denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms. p) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more compounds which contain a tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl unit, such as, for example, the compounds selected from the group consisting of the following formulae:

(451) ##STR00143## ##STR00144##

(452) in which R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms,

(453) and R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 preferably denote straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote C.sub.2H.sub.4, CHCH, (CH.sub.2).sub.4, (CH.sub.2).sub.3O, O(CH.sub.2).sub.3, CHCHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO, OCO, C.sub.2F.sub.4, CFCF, CFCH, CHCF, CH.sub.2 or a single bond. q) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more difluorodibenzochromans and/or chromans of the following formulae:

(454) ##STR00145##

(455) in which R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each, independently of one another, have one of the meanings indicated above for R.sup.11, ring M is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene, Z.sup.m C.sub.2H.sub.4, CH.sub.2O, OCH.sub.2, COO or OCO, c is 0, 1 or 2, preferably in amounts of 3 to 20% by weight, in particular in amounts of 3 to 15% by weight. Particularly preferred compounds of the formulae BC, CR and RC are selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(456) ##STR00146## ##STR00147## ##STR00148##

(457) in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, c is 1 or 2, and alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms. Alkenyl and alkenyl* preferably denote CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(458) Very particular preference is given to LC host mixtures comprising one, two or three compounds of the formula BC-2. r) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more fluorinated phenanthrenes and/or dibenzofurans of the following formulae:

(459) ##STR00149##

(460) in which R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each, independently of one another, have one of the meanings indicated above for R.sup.11, b denotes 0 or 1, L denotes F, and r denotes 1, 2 or 3. Particularly preferred compounds of the formulae PH and BF are selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(461) ##STR00150##

(462) in which R and R each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1-7 C atoms. s) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture additionally comprises one or more monocyclic compounds of the following formula

(463) ##STR00151##

(464) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, where, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by O, CHCH, CO, OCO or COO in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, preferably alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, OCF.sub.3, CF.sub.3, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2F, CHF.sub.2.

(465) Preferably, both L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 denote F or one of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 denotes F and the other denotes Cl,

(466) The compounds of the formula Y are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(467) ##STR00152##

(468) in which, Alkyl and Alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, Alkoxy denotes a straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1-6 C atoms, Alkenyl and Alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms, and O denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond. Alkenyl and Alkenyl* preferably denote CH.sub.2CH, CH.sub.2CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2, CH.sub.3CHCH, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH or CH.sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2.

(469) Particularly preferred compounds of the formula Y are selected from the group consisting of the following sub-formulae:

(470) ##STR00153##

(471) wherein Alkoxy preferably denotes straight-chain alkoxy with 3, 4, or 5 C atoms. t) LC medium which, apart from the polymerisable compounds as described above and below, does not contain a compound which contains a terminal vinyloxy group (OCHCH.sub.2). u) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture comprises 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, compounds of the formulae CY1, CY2, PY1 and/or PY2. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture as a whole is preferably 5 to 60%, particularly preferably 10 to 35%. The content of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%. v) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture comprises 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, compounds of the formulae CY9, CY10, PY9 and/or PY10. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture as a whole is preferably 5 to 60%, particularly preferably 10 to 35%. The content of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%. w) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture comprises 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 8, compounds of the formula ZK, in particular compounds of the formulae ZK1, ZK2 and/or ZK6. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture as a whole is preferably 3 to 25%, particularly preferably 5 to 45%. The content of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 2 to 20%. x) LC medium in which the proportion of compounds of the formulae CY, PY and ZK in the LC host mixture as a whole is greater than 70%, preferably greater than 80%. y) LC medium in which the LC host mixture contains one or more compounds containing an alkenyl group, preferably selected from formulae AN and AY, very preferably selected from formulae AN1, AN3, AN6 and AY14, most preferably from formulae AN1a, AN3a, AN6a and AY14. The concentration of these compounds in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 70%, very preferably from 3 to 55%. z) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture contains one or more, preferably 1 to 5, compounds selected of formula PY1-PY8, very preferably of formula PY2. The proportion of these compounds in the LC host mixture as a whole is preferably 1 to 30%, particularly preferably 2 to 20%. The content of these individual compounds is preferably in each case 1 to 20%. z1) LC medium wherein component B) or the LC host mixture contains one or more, preferably 1, 2 or 3, compounds selected from formulae T1, T2, T3 and T21, very preferably from formula T2. The content of these compounds in the LC host mixture as a whole is preferably 1 to 20%. z2) LC medium in which the LC host mixture contains one or more, preferably 1, 2 or 3, compounds of formula BF1, and one or more, preferably 1, 2 or 3, compounds selected from formulae AY14, AY15 and AY16, very preferably of formula AY14. The proportion of the compounds of formula AY14-AY16 in the LC host mixture is preferably from 2 to 35%, very preferably from 3 to 30%. The proportion of the compounds of formula BF1 in the LC host mixture is preferably from 0.5 to 20%, very preferably from 1 to 15%. Further preferably the LC host mixture according to this preferred embodiment contains one or more, preferably 1, 2 or 3 compounds of formula T, preferably selected from formula T1, T2 and T3, very preferably from formula T2. The proportion of the compounds of formula T in the LC host mixture medium is preferably from 0.5 to 15%, very preferably from 1 to 10%.

(472) In the LC medium according to the present invention, the use of an LC host mixture together with the use of a polymerisable component comprising a combination of a first, second and third polymerisable compound as described above leads to advantageous properties in LC displays. In particular, one or more of the following advantages could be achieved: easy and quick formation of polymer walls by polymerisation-induced phase separation of the polymer formed by the first and second polymerisable compounds, formation of polymer walls with highly defined shape and constant thickness, constant cell gap, high flexibility of the display cell in case plastic substrates are used, high resistance of the display cell against mechanical pressure, and low variation of the cell gap under pressure, good adhesion of the polymer walls to the substrates, low number of defects, reduced formation of domains with different electrooptical properties like response time or contrast, high transparency, good contrast, fast response times.

(473) The display manufacture process is known to the skilled person and is described in the literature, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,738 and EP2818534 A1.

(474) The present invention also relates to a process for the production of an LC display as described above and below, comprising the steps of providing an

(475) LC medium as described above and below into the display, and polymerising the polymerisable compounds in defined regions of the display.

(476) Preferably the polymerisable compounds are photopolymerised by exposure to UV irradiation.

(477) Further preferably the polymerisable compounds are photopolymerised by exposure to UV irradiation through a photomask.

(478) The photomask is preferably designed such that it comprises regions that are transparent to the UV radiation used for photopolymerisation, and regions that are not transparent to the UV radiation used for photopolymerisation, and wherein the transparent regions form a pattern or image that corresponds to the desired shape of the polymer walls. As a result the polymerisable compounds are only polymerised in those parts of the display that are covered by the transparent regions of the photomask, thus forming polymer walls of the desired shape.

(479) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display is subjected to a second UV irradiation step, preferably without a photomask applied, after the first UV irradiation step as described above. Thereby it is possible to complete polymerisation of monomers that were not or only partially polymerised in the first step.

(480) For example, an LC display according to the present invention can be manufactured as follows. Polymerisable compounds as described above and below are combined with a suitable LC host mixture. This resulting LC medium can then be included into the display by using conventional manufacturing processes. The resulting LC medium can be filled for example using capillary forces into the cell gap formed by two substrates.

(481) Alternatively, the LC medium can be deposited as a layer onto a substrate, and another substrate is placed on top of the LC layer under vacuum in order to prevent inclusion of air bubbles. The LC medium is in either case located in the cell gap formed by the two substrates, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1a. These substrates usually are covered by an alignment layer which is in direct contact with the LC medium. The substrates itself can carry other functional components like TFTs, black matrix, colour filter, or similar.

(482) Subsequently, polymerization induced phase separation is initiated by exposure of the LC medium, which is either in the nematic or the isotropic phase, to UV radiation with collimated light through a photomask, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1b. This leads to the formation of polymer wall structures, restoration of the LC host, and alignment of the LC phase with the alignment layer, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1c.

(483) Polymerisation of the polymerisable compounds in the LC medium is preferably carried out a room temperature. At the polymerisation temperature the LC medium can be in the nematic or isotropic phase, depending on the concentration of the polymerisable compounds. For example, if the polymerisable compounds are present in higher concentration, for example above 10-15%, it is possible that the LC medium is in the isotropic phase at room temperature.

(484) This process can advantageously utilize display manufacturing processes that are established in the industry. Thus, both the display filling process, for example by one-drop-filling (ODF), and the radiation initiated polymerization step after sealing the display, which is known for example from polymer stabilised or PS-type display modes like PS-VA, are established techniques in conventional LCD manufacturing.

(485) A preferred LC display of the present invention comprises: a first substrate including a pixel electrode defining pixel areas, the pixel electrode being connected to a switching element disposed in each pixel area and optionally including a micro-slit pattern, and optionally a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode, a second substrate including a common electrode layer, which may be disposed on the entire portion of the second substrate facing the first substrate, and optionally a second alignment layer, an LC layer disposed between the first and second substrates and including an LC medium comprising a polymerisable component A) and a liquid-crystalline component B) as described above and below, wherein the polymerisable component A) is polymerised.

(486) The LC display may comprise further elements, like a colour filter, a black matrix, a passivation layer, optical retardation layers, transistor elements for addressing the individual pixels, etc., all of which are well known to the person skilled in the art and can be employed without inventive skill.

(487) The electrode structure can be designed by the skilled person depending on the individual display type. For example for VA displays a multi-domain orientation of the LC molecules can be induced by providing electrodes having slits and/or bumps or protrusions in order to create two, four or more different tilt alignment directions.

(488) The first and/or second alignment layer controls the alignment direction of the LC molecules of the LC layer. For example, in TN displays the alignment layer is selected such that it imparts to the LC molecules an orientation direction parallel to the surface, while in VA displays the alignment layer is selected such that it imparts to the LC molecules a homeotropic alignment, i.e. an orientation direction perpendicular to the surface. Such an alignment layer may for example comprise a polyimide, which may also be rubbed, or may be prepared by a photoalignment method.

(489) The substrate can be a glass substrate. The use of an LC medium according to the present invention in an LC display with glass substrates can provide several advantages. For example, the formation of polymer wall structures in the LC medium helps to prevent the so-called pooling effect where pressure applied on the glass substrates causes unwanted optical defects. The stabilizing effect of the polymer wall structures also allows to further minimize the panel thickness. Moreover, in bent panels with glass substrates the polymer wall structures enable a smaller radius of curvature.

(490) For flexible LC displays preferably plastic substrates are used. These plastic substrates preferably have a low birefringence. Examples are polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polycyclic olefine (PCO), polyarylate (PAR), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), or colourless polyimide (CPI) substrates.

(491) The LC layer with the LC medium can be deposited between the substrates of the display by methods that are conventionally used by display manufacturers, for example the one-drop-filling (ODF) method. The polymerisable component of the LC medium is then polymerised for example by UV photopolymerisation.

(492) The polymerisation can be carried out in one step or in two or more steps. It is also possible to carry out the polymerisation in a sequence of several UV irradiation and/or heating or cooling steps. For example, a display manufacturing process may include a first UV irradiation step at room temperature to start polymerisation, and subsequently, in a second polymerisation step to polymerise or crosslink the compounds which have not reacted in the first step (end curing).

(493) Upon polymerisation the polymerisable compounds react with each other to a polymer which undergoes macroscopical phase-separation from the LC host mixture and forms polymer walls in the LC medium.

(494) Suitable and preferred polymerisation methods are, for example, thermal or photopolymerisation, preferably photopolymerisation, in particular UV induced photopolymerisation, which can be achieved by exposure of the polymerisable compounds to UV radiation.

(495) Optionally one or more polymerisation initiators are added to the LC medium. Suitable conditions for the polymerisation and suitable types and amounts of initiators are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Suitable for free-radical polymerisation are, for example, the commercially available photoinitiators Irgacure651, Irgacure184, Irgacure907, Irgacure369 or Darocure1173 (Ciba AG). If a polymerisation initiator is employed, its proportion is preferably 0.001 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 0.001 to 1% by weight.

(496) The polymerisable compounds according to the invention are also suitable for polymerisation without an initiator, which is accompanied by considerable advantages, such, for example, lower material costs and in particular less contamination of the LC medium by possible residual amounts of the initiator or degradation products thereof. The polymerisation can thus also be carried out without the addition of an initiator. In a preferred embodiment, the LC medium contains a polymerisation initiator.

(497) The LC medium may also comprise one or more stabilisers or inhibitors in order to prevent undesired spontaneous polymerisation of the RMs, for example during storage or transport. Suitable types and amounts of stabilisers are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. Particularly suitable are, for example, the commercially available stabilisers from the Irganox series (Ciba AG), such as, for example, Irganox 1076. If stabilisers are employed, their proportion, based on the total amount of RMs or the polymerisable component (component A), is preferably 10-500,000 ppm, particularly preferably 50-50,000 ppm.

(498) Preferably the LC medium according to the present invention does essentially consist of a polymerisable component A) and an LC component B) (or LC host mixture) as described above and below. However, the LC medium may additionally comprise one or more further components or additives.

(499) The LC media according to the invention may also comprise further additives which are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature, such as, for example, polymerisation initiators, inhibitors, stabilisers, surface-active substances or chiral dopants. These may be polymerisable or non-polymerisable. Polymerisable additives are accordingly ascribed to the polymerisable component or component A). Non-polymerisable additives are accordingly ascribed to the non-polymerisable component or component B).

(500) Preferred additives are selected from the list including but not limited to co-monomers, chiral dopants, polymerisation initiators, inhibitors, stabilizers, surfactants, wetting agents, lubricating agents, dispersing agents, hydrophobing agents, adhesive agents, flow improvers, defoaming agents, deaerators, diluents, reactive diluents, auxiliaries, colourants, dyes, pigments and nanoparticles.

(501) In a preferred embodiment the LC media contain one or more chiral dopants, preferably in a concentration from 0.01 to 1% by weight, very preferably from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight. The chiral dopants are preferably selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table B below, very preferably from the group consisting of R- or S-1011, R- or S-2011, R- or S-3011, R- or S-4011, and R- or S-5011.

(502) In another preferred embodiment the LC media contain a racemate of one or more chiral dopants, which are preferably selected from the chiral dopants mentioned in the previous paragraph.

(503) Furthermore, it is possible to add to the LC media, for example, 0 to 15% by weight of pleochroic dyes, furthermore nanoparticles, conductive salts, preferably ethyldimethyldodecylammonium 4-hexoxybenzoate, tetrabutyl-ammonium tetraphenylborate or complex salts of crown ethers (cf., for example, Haller et al., Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 24, 249-258 (1973)), for improving the conductivity, or substances for modifying the dielectric anisotropy, the viscosity and/or the alignment of the nematic phases. Substances of this type are described, for example, in DE-A 22 09 127, 22 40 864, 23 21 632, 23 38 281, 24 50 088, 26 37 430 and 28 53 728.

(504) The LC media which can be used in accordance with the invention are prepared in a manner conventional per se, for example by mixing one or more of the above-mentioned compounds with one or more polymerisable compounds as defined above, and optionally with further liquid-crystalline compounds and/or additives. In general, the desired amount of the components used in lesser amount is dissolved in the components making up the principal constituent, advantageously at elevated temperature. It is also possible to mix solutions of the components in an organic solvent, for example in acetone, chloroform or methanol, and to remove the solvent again, for example by distillation, after thorough mixing. The invention furthermore relates to the process for the preparation of the LC media according to the invention.

(505) It goes without saying to the person skilled in the art that the LC media according to the invention may also comprise compounds in which, for example, H, N, O, Cl, F have been replaced by the corresponding isotopes like deuterium etc.

(506) The following examples explain the present invention without restricting it. However, they show the person skilled in the art preferred mixture concepts with compounds preferably to be employed and the respective concentrations thereof and combinations thereof with one another. In addition, the examples illustrate which properties and property combinations are accessible.

(507) The following abbreviations are used:

(508) (n, m, z: in each case, independently of one another, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6)

(509) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A1 (n = 1-15; (O)C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1 means C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1 or OC.sub.nH.sub.2n+1) PYP PYRP BCH CBC CCH CCP 0 CPTP CEPTP ECCP CECP EPCH PCH CH PTP CCPC CP 0 BECH EBCH CPC B FET-nF CGG CGU CFU APU-n-OXF ACQU-n-F 0 APUQU-n-F BCH-nFm CFU-n-F CBC-nmF ECCP-nm CCZU-n-F PGP-n-m CGU-n-F CPU-n-VT CPU-n-AT 0 CDUQU-n-F DGUQU-n-F DUUQU-n-F CDU-n-F DCU-n-F C-n-V C-n-XF C-n-m CCP-nOCF.sub.3 CGG-n-F 00 CPZG-n-OT 01 CC-nV-Vm 02 CPU-n-OXF 03 CCP-Vn-m 04 CCG-V-F 05 CCP-nV-m 06 CC-n-V 07 CC-n-2V1 08 CC-n-V1 09 CCVC-n-V 0 CCP-n-m CCQU-n-F CC-n-Vm CLUQU-n-F CPPC-nV-Vm CCQG-n-F CQU-n-F Dec-U-n-F CWCU-n-F CPGP-n-m 0 CWCG-n-F CCOC-n-m CPTU-n-F GPTU-n-F PQU-n-F PUQU-n-F PGU-n-F CGZP-n-OT CCGU-n-F CCQG-n-F 0 DPGU-n-F DPGU-n-OT CUQU-n-F GUQU-n-F CCCQU-n-F CGUQU-n-F CPGU-n-OT PYP-nF CPGU-n-F CVCP-1V-OT 0 GGP-n-Cl PP-nV-Vm PP-1-nVm CWCQU-n-F PPGU-n-F PGUQU-n-F GPQU-n-F MPP-n-F MUQU-n-F NUQU-n-F 0 PGP-n-kVm PP-n-kVm PCH-nCl GP-n-Cl GGP-n-F PGIGI-n-F PGU-n-OXF PCH-nOm GUOGU-n-F PCH-n 0 MEnNF HPnNF K3n BCH-nFFF CBC-nmF CCP-nOCF.sub.3 CCP-nFFF

(510) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE A2 (n, m = 1-15; (O)C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1 means C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1 or OC.sub.nH.sub.2n+1) AIK-n-F AIY-n-Om AY-n-Om 0 B-nO-Om B-n-Om B-nO-O5i CB-n-m CB-n-Om PB-n-m PB-n-Om BCH-nm BCH-nmF BCN-nm 0 C-1V-V1 CY-n-Om CY(F,Cl)-n-Om CY(Cl,F)-n-Om CCY-n-Om CCY(F,Cl)-n-Om CCY(Cl,F)-n-Om CCY-n-m CCY-V-m CCY-Vn-m 0 CCY-n-OmV CBC-nmF CBC-nm CCP-V-m CCP-Vn-m CCP-nV-m CCP-n-m CPYP-n-(O)m CYYC-n-m CCYY-n-(O)m 00 CCY-n-O2V 01 CCH-nOm 02 CCC-n-m 03 CCC-n-V 04 CY-n-m 05 CCH-nm 06 CC-n-V 07 CC-n-V1 08 CC-n-Vm 09 CC-V-V 0 CC-V-V1 CC-2V-V2 CVC-n-m CC-n-mV CCOC-n-m CP-nOmFF CH-nm CEY-n-Om CEY-V-n CVY-V-n 0 CY-V-On CY-n-O1V CY-n-OC(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CCN-nm CY-n-OV CCPC-nm CCY-n-zOm CPY-n-Om CPY-n-m CPY-V-Om 0 CQY-n-(O)m CQIY-n-(O)m CCQY-n-(O)m CCQIY-n-(O)m CPQY-n-(O)m CPQIY-n-(O)m CPYG-n-(O)m CCY-V-Om CCY-V2-(O)m CCY-1V2-(O)m 0 CCY-3V-(O)m CCVC-n-V CCVC-V-V CPYG-n-(O)m CPGP-n-m CY-nV-(O)m CENaph-n-Om COChrom-n-Om COChrom-n-m CCOChrom-n-Om 0 CCOChrom-n-m CONaph-n-Om CCONaph-n-Om CCNaph-n-Om CNaph-n-Om CETNaph-n-Om CTNaph-n-Om CK-n-F CLY-n-Om CLY-n-m 0 LYLI-n-m CYLI-n-m LY-n-(O)m COYOICC-n-m COYOIC-n-V CCOY-V-O2V CCOY-V-O3V COY-n-Om CCOY-n-Om D-nOmFF 0 PCH-nm PCH-nOm PGIGI-n-F PGP-n-m PP-n-m PP-n-2V1 PYP-n-mV PYP-n-m PGIY-n-Om PYP-n-Om 0 PPYY-n-m PPGU-n-F YPY-n-m YPY-n-mV PY-n-Om PY-n-m PY-V2-Om DFDBC-n(O)-(O)m Y-nO-Om Y-nO-OmV 0 Y-nO-OmVm YG-n-Om YG-nO-Om YGI-n-Om YGI-nO-Om YY-n-Om YY-nO-Om

(511) In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LC media according to the invention comprise one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table A1.

(512) In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LC media according to the invention comprise one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table A2.

(513) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE B 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

(514) Table B shows possible chiral dopants which can be added to the LC media according to the invention.

(515) The LC media preferably comprise 0 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.01 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight, of dopants. The LC media preferably comprise one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table B.

(516) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE C 0 0 0 0

(517) Table C shows possible stabilisers which can be added to the LC media according to the invention.

(518) (n here denotes an integer from 1 to 12, preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, terminal methyl groups are not shown).

(519) The LC media preferably comprise 0 to 10% by weight, in particular 1 ppm to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 1 ppm to 1% by weight, of stabilisers. The LC media preferably comprise one or more stabilisers selected from the group consisting of compounds from Table C.

(520) In addition, the following abbreviations and symbols are used: V.sub.0 threshold voltage, capacitive [V] at 20 C., n.sub.e extraordinary refractive index at 20 C. and 589 nm, n.sub.o ordinary refractive index at 20 C. and 589 nm, n optical anisotropy at 20 C. and 589 nm, .sub. dielectric permittivity perpendicular to the director at 20 C. and 1 kHz, .sub.| dielectric permittivity parallel to the director at 20 C. and 1 kHz, dielectric anisotropy at 20 C. and 1 kHz, cl.p., T(N,I) clearing point [ C.], .sub.1 rotational viscosity at 20 C. [mPa.Math.s], K.sub.1 elastic constant, splay deformation at 20 C. [pN], K.sub.2 elastic constant, twist deformation at 20 C. [pN], K.sub.3 elastic constant, bend deformation at 20 C. [pN].

(521) Unless explicitly noted otherwise, all concentrations in the present application are quoted in percent by weight, and preferably relate to the corresponding mixture as a whole, comprising all solid or liquid-crystalline components, without solvents.

(522) Unless explicitly noted otherwise, all temperature values indicated in the present application, such as, for example, for the melting point T(C,N), the transition from the smectic (S) to the nematic (N) phase T(S,N) and the clearing point T(N,I), are quoted in degrees Celsius ( C.). M.p. denotes melting point, cl.p.=clearing point. Furthermore, C=crystalline state, N=nematic phase, S=smectic phase and I=isotropic phase. The data between these symbols represent the transition temperatures.

(523) All physical properties are and have been determined in accordance with Merck Liquid Crystals, Physical Properties of Liquid Crystals, Status November 1997, Merck KGaA, Germany, and apply for a temperature of 20 C., and n is determined at 589 nm and at 1 kHz, unless explicitly indicated otherwise in each case.

(524) The term threshold voltage for the present invention relates to the capacitive threshold (V.sub.0), also known as the Freedericks threshold, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. In the examples, the optical threshold may also, as generally usual, be quoted for 10% relative contrast (V.sub.10).

EXAMPLES

(525) LC Host Mixtures

Example 1

(526) The nematic LC host mixture N1 is formulated as follows.

(527) TABLE-US-00005 PCH-3 16.00% cl.p. 73.8 C. PUQU-3-F 11.00% n 0.0862 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% 6.5 PCH-301 10.00% .sub.|| 10.5 PCH-302 10.00% .sub.1 114 mPa .Math. s CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 2

(528) The nematic LC host mixture N2 is formulated as follows.

(529) TABLE-US-00006 PUQU-2-F 10.00% cl.p. 73.5 C. PUQU-3-F 12.00% n 0.0822 CCP-2F.F.F 4.00% 6.6 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.1 95 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 11.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 3

(530) The nematic LC host mixture N3 is formulated as follows.

(531) TABLE-US-00007 K6 8.00% cl.p. 72.0 C. K15 8.00% n 0.0993 PUQU-3-F 10.00% 6.7 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.1 94 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 11.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 4

(532) The nematic LC host mixture N4 is formulated as follows.

(533) TABLE-US-00008 ME2N.F 8.00% cl.p. 71.0 C. ME3N.F 8.00% n 0.0900 PUQU-3-F 11.00% 13.0 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.1 105 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 10.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 5

(534) The nematic LC host mixture N5 is formulated as follows.

(535) TABLE-US-00009 GUQU-3-F 8.00% cl.p. 74.5 C. GUQGU-3-F 8.00% n 0.0874 PUQU-3-F 11.00% 8.6 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.1 111 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 10.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 6

(536) The nematic LC host mixture N6 is formulated as follows.

(537) TABLE-US-00010 DUUQU-3-F 8.00% cl.p. 77.5 C. DUUQU-4-F 8.00% n 0.0833 PUQU-3-F 11.00% 10.1 CCP-3F.F.F 5.00% .sub.1 116 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 15.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 7

(538) The nematic LC host mixture N7 is formulated as follows.

(539) TABLE-US-00011 CC-3-V 8.00% cl.p. 76.5 C. PP-1-2V1 8.00% n 0.0837 PUQU-3-F 11.00% 3.4 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.1 83 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 10.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 8.00% CH-33 4.00% CH-35 4.00% CH-43 4.00% CH-45 3.00% CCPC-33 3.00% CCPC-35 3.00% CCP-3-1 5.00%

Example 8

(540) The nematic LC host mixture N8 is formulated as follows.

(541) TABLE-US-00012 PUQU-2-F 10.00% cl.p. 72.8 C. PUQU-3-F 10.00% n 0.0969 CCP-2F.F.F 8.00% 6.5 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.1 85 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 10.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 7.00% CCP-3-1 8.00% CCP-3-3 6.00% CBC-33 4.00% BCH-32 6.00% CPGP-5-2 2.00%

Example 9

(542) The nematic LC host mixture N9 is formulated as follows.

(543) TABLE-US-00013 PUQU-3-F 10.00% cl.p. 74.7 C. CCP-2F.F.F 9.00% n 0.0929 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% 4.0 PCH-53 7.00% .sub.1 81 mPa .Math. s PCH-301 10.00% PCH-302 10.00% CCH-303 9.00% CCH-501 7.00% CCP-3-1 8.00% CCP-3-3 6.00% CBC-33 4.00% BCH-32 8.00% CPGP-5-2 2.00%

Example 10

(544) The nematic LC host mixture N10 is formulated as follows.

(545) TABLE-US-00014 PUQU-2-F 10.00% cl.p. 79.8 C. PUQU-3-F 12.00% n 0.0895 ACQU-3-F 9.00% 6.6 BCH-32 5.00% .sub.1 64 mPa .Math. s CCP-3-1 9.00% CCP-3-3 6.00% CC-3-V 33.00% CCP-V-1 16.00%

Example 11

(546) The nematic LC host mixture N11 is formulated as follows.

(547) TABLE-US-00015 CC-3-V 13.00% cl.p. 80.5 C. CC-3-V1 3.50% n 0.1021 CCP-V-1 8.00% 10.3 PUQU-3-F 9.00% .sub.|| 14.1 CCQU-2-F 4.00% .sub.1 99 mPa .Math. s CCQU-3-F 9.00% CCQU-5-F 10.00% PGP-2-3 3.00% PGP-2-4 4.00% CCP-2F.F.F 4.00% CCP-3F.F.F 6.00% CCP-30CF3 7.00% BCH-3F.F.F 3.00% CCGU-3-F 3.50% PCH-3 13.00%

Example 12

(548) The nematic LC host mixture N12 is formulated as follows.

(549) TABLE-US-00016 CC-3-V 40.00% cl.p. 82.0 C. CCP-V-1 16.00% n 0.1025 PGP-2-3 3.00% 10.3 PGP-2-4 4.00% .sub.|| 13.9 PUQU-3-F 10.00% .sub.1 74 mPa .Math. s APUQU-2-F 5.00% APUQU-3-F 10.00% CDUQU-3-F 12.00%

Example 13

(550) The nematic LC host mixture N13 is formulated as follows.

(551) TABLE-US-00017 PGU-2-F 7.00% cl.p. 80.0 C. PGU-3-F 8.00% n 0.1026 CC-3-V1 13.00% 6.9 CC-5-V 15.00% .sub.|| 10.2 PCH-302 8.50% .sub.1 84 mPa .Math. s CCP-V-1 10.00% CCP-V2-1 7.00% CCG-V-F 8.00% PUQU-3-F 8.50% CCQU-3-F 9.00% CCQU-5-F 4.00% CCOC-3-3 2.00%

Example 14

(552) The nematic LC host mixture N14 is formulated as follows.

(553) TABLE-US-00018 APUQU-2-F 6.00% cl.p. 79.5 C. APUQU-3-F 6.00% n 0.1086 CC-3-V 44.50% 9.6 CC-3-V1 4.00% .sub.|| 12.9 CCP-30CF3 7.00% .sub.1 67 mPa .Math. s CCP-V-1 5.00% CPGU-3-OT 3.00% PGP-2-2V 5.50% PGUQU-3-F 3.00% PGUQU-4-F 7.00% PGUQU-5-F 3.00% PUQU-3-F 6.00%

Example 15

(554) The nematic LC host mixture N15 is formulated as follows.

(555) TABLE-US-00019 CGU-3-F 7.00% cl.p. 82.0 C. CCP-1F.F.F 7.00% n 0.0781 CCP-2F.F.F 10.00% 9.1 CCP-3F.F.F 10.00% .sub.|| 12.8 CCQU-2-F 10.00% .sub.1 125 mPa .Math. s CCQU-3-F 10.00% CCQU-5-F 10.00% CCP-30CF3.F 8.00% CCP-20CF3 6.00% CCP-30CF3 6.00% CCP-50CF3 3.00% BCH-32 4.00% CCH-23 5.00% CCH-301 4.00%

Example 16

(556) The nematic LC host mixture N16 is formulated as follows.

(557) TABLE-US-00020 PUQU-3-F 5.50% cl.p. 80.1 C. CC-3-V 40.00% n 0.1095 CC-3-V1 10.00% 9.1 CCP-V-1 10.00% .sub.|| 12.4 APUQU-2-F 5.00% .sub.1 65 mPa .Math. s APUQU-3-F 10.50% PGUQU-3-F 3.50% PGUQU-4-F 8.00% PGP-2-2V 7.50%

Example 17

(558) The nematic LC host mixture N17 is formulated as follows.

(559) TABLE-US-00021 PUQU-3-F 13.50% cl.p. 83.3 C. APUQU-3-F 3.50% n 0.0995 PGUQU-3-F 4.25% 6.5 CC-3-V 33.50% .sub.|| 9.5 CC-3-V1 7.00% .sub.1 69 mPa .Math. s PP-1-2V1 3.25% CCP-V-1 9.50% CCP-V2-1 12.00% ECCP-5F.F 10.00% PPGU-3-F 2.00% PGUQU-4-F 1.50% PGUQU-3-F 4.25%

Example 18

(560) The nematic LC host mixture N18 is formulated as follows.

(561) TABLE-US-00022 PY-3-O2 13.50% cl.p. 74.6 C. CY-3-O2 9.00% n 0.1082 CCY-3-O1 8.00% 3.2 CCY-3-O2 3.00% .sub.|| 3.7 CCY-4-O2 3.00% .sub.1 94 mPa s CPY-2-O2 10.00% CPY-3-O2 10.00% CC-3-V 36.50% BCH-32 6.50% PPGU-3-F 0.50%

Example 19

(562) The nematic LC host mixture N19 is formulated as follows.

(563) TABLE-US-00023 CC-3-V 40.00% cl.p. 81.5 C. CC-3-V1 8.00% n 0.0827 PUQU-2-F 3.00% 9.4 PUQU-3-F 8.00% .sub.|| 12.8 APUQU-2-F 7.00% .sub.1 75 mPa .Math. s APUQU-3-F 7.00% CCP-3-1 7.00% CCOC-3-3 5.00% CCOC-4-3 5.00% CDUQU-3-F 10.00%

Example 20

(564) The nematic LC host mixture N20 is formulated as follows.

(565) TABLE-US-00024 APUQU-2-F 6.00% cl.p. 80.0 C. APUQU-3-F 8.00% n 0.1125 CC-3-V 26.00% 10.5 CCP-V-1 14.00% .sub.|| 15.6 CCP-V2-1 12.00% .sub.1 95 mPa .Math. s DGUQU-4-F 5.00% DPGU-4-F 5.00% PGP-2-2V 4.50% PGUQU-3-F 5.00% PGUQU-4-F 3.00% PPGU-3-F 0.50% Y-4O-O4 11.00%

Example 21

(566) The nematic LC host mixture N21 is formulated as follows.

(567) TABLE-US-00025 CC-3-V 50.50% cl.p. 79.4 C. CC-3-V1 4.50% n 0.1094 CCP-V-1 13.50% 5.2 CPGU-3-OT 6.00% .sub.|| 8.1 PGP-2-2V 6.50% .sub.1 54 mPa .Math. s PGU-2-F 10.00% PGUQU-3-F 7.00% PPGU-3-F 1.00% PUQU-2-F 1.50%

Example 22

(568) The nematic LC host mixture N22 is formulated as follows.

(569) TABLE-US-00026 PUQU-3-F 8.00% cl.p. 90.6 C. PGU-3-F 3.50% n 0.1006 CGU-3-F 8.00% 6.5 BCH-3F.F.F 8.50% .sub.|| 9.7 CCP-3F.F.F 3.00% .sub.1 86 mPa .Math. s CCG-V-F 8.00% CCGU-3-F 6.00% CC-3-V1 5.00% CC-3-V 25.00% CCP-V-1 13.00% CCP-V2-1 12.00%

Example 23

(570) The nematic LC host mixture N23 is formulated as follows.

(571) TABLE-US-00027 PUQU-3-F 13.50% cl.p. 83.3 C. APUQU-3-F 3.50% n 0.0995 PGUQU-3-F 4.25% 6.5 CC-3-V 33.50% .sub.|| 9.5 CC-3-V1 7.00% .sub.1 69 mPa .Math. s PP-1-2V1 3.25% CCP-V-1 9.50% CCP-V2-1 12.00% ECCP-5F.F 10.00% PPGU-3-F 2.00% PGUQU-4-F 1.50%

Polymerisable Mixture Examples

(572) Polymerisable Mixture Preparation:

(573) Polymerisable LC media for polymer wall formation are prepared by mixing LC host, monomer and photoinitiator and then homogenizing the resulting mixture by heating above the clearing point. The structures of the monomer (including its formula and name in the composition table) are listed below. The mixture compositions are shown in Table 1.

(574) ##STR00449## ##STR00450## ##STR00451##

(575) TABLE-US-00028 TABLE 1 Polymerisable Mixture Compositions [Host] [Monomer 1] [Monomer 2] [Monomer 3] IRG-651 No. Host (%) Monomer 1 (%) Monomer 2 (%) Monomer 3 (%) [%] C1 N14 84.85 M1a 4.67 M2a 9.33 D1a 1.00 0.15 1 N14 84.85 M1a 4.67 M2a 9.33 H1 1.00 0.15 2 N16 86.87 M1b 6.00 M2d 6.00 H6 1.00 0.13 3 N16 86.87 M1b 6.00 M2d 6.00 H2 1.00 0.13 4 N16 86.87 M1b 5.97 M2d 5.97 H3 1.06 0.13 5 N16 86.87 M1b 5.94 M2d 5.94 H4 1.12 0.13 6 N16 86.87 M1b 5.97 M2d 5.97 H3 1.06 0.13 7 N16 86.87 M1b 5.91 M2d 5.91 H5 1.18 0.13 8 N16 86.87 M1b 5.85 M2d 5.85 H6 1.30 0.13 9 N17 84.85 M1a 9.33 M2a 4.67 H1 1.00 0.15 10 N18 84.85 M1a 4.67 M2a 9.33 H1 1.00 0.15 11 N19 84.85 M1a 4.67 M5a 9.33 H1 1.00 0.15 12 N19 84.85 M1a 4.67 M2a 9.33 H1 1.00 0.15 13 N19 78.00 M1a 6.23 M2a 12.44 H1 1.33 2.00 14 N20 84.86 M1a 4.67 M5a 9.33 H1 1.00 0.15 15 N21 78.79 M1c 9.45 M2c 9.45 H6 2.10 0.21 16 N22 79.80 M1c 9.00 M2c 9.00 H6 2.00 0.20 17 N23 79.80 M1c 9.00 M2c 9.00 H6 2.00 0.20

(576) Polymerisable mixture C1, which is a comparison mixture, contains host mixture N14 having positive dielectric anisotropy, and further contains a first monoreactive first monomer M1a of formula I1a1, a monoreactive second momoner M2a of formula II1a2, and a direactive monomer D1a of formula IV1a1, but does not contain a direactive third monomer having two different polymerisable groups.

(577) Polymerisable mixture 1 according to the invention contains host mixture N14 having positive dielectric anisotropy, and further contains a monoreactive first monomer M1a of formula I1a1, a monoreactive second momoner M2a of formula II1a2, and a direactive third monomer H1 of formula III1a2 having two different polymerisable groups.

(578) Polymerisable mixtures 2-8 according to the invention contain host mixture N16 having positive dielectric anisotropy, and further contain a monoreactive first monomer M1b of formula I2a1, a monoreactive second momoner M2d of formula II1a5, and a direactive third monomer H2, H3, H4, H5 or H6 of formula III1a7, III1a8, III1a9, III1a14 or III1a20, respectively, having two different polymerisable groups.

(579) Polymerisable mixture 9 according to the invention contains the same reactive compounds as mixture 1, but contains an LC host mixture N17 having negative dielectric anisotropy.

(580) Monomers/Initiator:

(581) The monomers ethyl hexyl methacrylate (EHMA, Aldrich, 290807) of formula IIa1, ethyl hexyl acrylate (EHA, Aldrich, 290815) of formula IIa2 and isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA, Aldrich, 392111) of formula I1a1 are purified by column chromatography. The photoinitiator 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (IRG-651, Aldrich, 196118) was used as received.

Device Examples

(582) Test Cells:

(583) The test cells comprise two glass substrates coated with ITO, which are kept apart by spacer particles or foils at a layer thickness of 3-4 microns and glued together by an adhesive (usually Norland, NEA 123). On top of the electrode layers polyimide alignment layers (Nissan SE-6514 or SE2414) are applied which are rubbed parallel or antiparallel.

(584) Wall Formation:

(585) The test cells are filled with the LC medium and placed on a black, non-reflecting surface. A photomask is placed on top of the test cells and the sample is subjected for 30 min to UV radiation (Hg/Xe arch lamp, LOT QuantumDesign Europe, LS0205, intensity at sample 4 mW/cm.sup.2 measured at 365+/10 nm FWHM). Radiation of the emission spectrum below 320 nm is removed by a dichroic mirror. The photomask usually has a pattern of equidistant lines of the same thickness. Typical line thickness is 10 microns, typcial distance between the lines is 100 microns.

(586) Characterization:

(587) Samples are analyzed under a polarization microscope. The isotropic polymer walls can clearly be distinguished from areas containing birefringend LC. The width of the walls and inclusions of LC into the polymer walls, and defects in the pixel area caused by contamination of polymer, or misalignment of the LC caused by the wall formation process can be observed.

(588) Mechanical Stress Test:

(589) Test cells are subjected to a mechanical stress by applying pressure to the top substrate by a 0.5 mm.sup.2 tip with a force of 10N for 10 s. Damages to the polymer wall structure are evaluated with the polarization microscope.

(590) It was observed that the polymer wall structure did not show significant damages caused by mechanical stress.

(591) Electron Micrographs:

(592) The structure of the polymer walls and contamination of the pixel area by polymer are investigated by taking electron micrographs. The samples are prepared by either lifting off the top substrate for top-view images, or breaking the glass slides in half for viewing the cross section of the walls. The LC is removed by flushing the sample with cyclohexane, subsequently the substrates is dried in an air flow and sputter coated with a conductive layer (gold).

(593) Electro-Optical Characterization:

(594) The electro-optical properties of the liquid crystal host are characterized by applying an electrical potential between 0 and 10V in steps of 0.05V. The resulting response is recorded by measuring the transmission change of the sample in between crossed polarizers (DMS 301 equipped with integration sphere).

(595) It was observed that the electrooptical properties of the liquid crystal host were not significantly affected by the polymer wall structures.

Comparison Example A

(596) Polymerisable LC mixture C1 is filled into a test cell and subjected to UV irradiation under a photomask as described above. FIG. 2 shows polarization microscope images of the test cell after polymerization (a), after mechanical stress test (b) and after thermal stress test (c). The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines.

Example A

(597) Polymerisable LC mixture 1 is filled into a test cell and subjected to UV irradiation under a photomask as described above. FIG. 3 shows polarization microscope images of the test cell after polymerization (a), after mechanical stress test (b) and after thermal stress test (c). The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines.

(598) It can be seen that, compared to Comparison Example A, the formed poymer walls are better defined with sharper edges.

Example B

(599) Polymerisable LC mixture 2 is filled into a test cell and subjected to UV irradiation under a photomask as described above. FIG. 4 shows polarization microscope images of the test cell after polymerization (a), after mechanical stress test (b) and after thermal stress test (c). The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines.

(600) The test cell is subjected to a further UV irradiation step without a photomask using the same lamp but with an intensity of 80 mW/cm.sup.2 for 5 minutes.

(601) FIG. 5 shows polarization microscope images of the test cell after the second UV irradiation step (a) and after thermal stress test (b). The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines. It can also be seen from FIG. 5 that the second UV irradiation step can further improve polymer wall formation.

Example C

(602) Polymerisable LC mixtures 3, 4 and 5 are each filled into a test cell and subjected to UV irradiation under a photomask as described above. FIG. 6 shows polarization microscope images of the test cells for each of mixtures 3, 4 and 5 after polymerization (a) and after mechanical stress test (b). The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines.

(603) It can be seen that, compared to Comparison Example A, the formed poymer walls are better defined with sharper edges.

(604) Polymerisable LC mixtures 3, 4 and 5 contain as third polymerisable compound the compound H2, H3 and H4, respectively, which all have a central octylene group and a vinyloxy group as first polymerisable group, but differ from each other by the second polymerisable group, which is acrylate (H2), methacrylate (H3) and ethacrylate (H4) respectively. From FIG. 6 it can be seen that the polymer wall formation is good for all three mixtures, but mixture 4 with compound H3 shows best defined and sharpest polymer walls.

Example D

(605) Polymerisable LC mixtures 6, 7 and 8 are each filled into a test cell and subjected to UV irradiation under a photomask as described above. FIG. 7 shows polarization microscope images of the test cells for each of mixtures 6, 7 and 8 after polymerization (a) and after mechanical stress test (b). The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines.

(606) It can be seen that, compared to Comparison Example A, the formed poymer walls are better defined with sharper edges.

(607) Polymerisable LC mixtures 6, 7 and 8 contain as third polymerisable compound the compound H3, H5 and H6, respectively, which differ from each other only by the length of the alkylene group between the vinyloxy group and the methacrylate group, which is octylene (H3), decylene (H5) and dodecylene (H6), respectively. From FIG. 7 it can be seen that the polymer wall formation is of similar quality for all three mixtures, and does not vary with varying length of the alkylene chain.

Example E

(608) Polymerisable LC mixture 11 is filled into a test cell and subjected to UV irradiation under a photomask as described above. FIG. 8 shows a polarization microscope image of the test cell after polymerization. The formed polymer walls can be seen as dark lines.