Fluorine-containing chiral smectic liquid crystals

Claim 2

Compounds comprising a fluorocarbon terminal portion represented by the formula -DC q F 2q X where X is hydrogen or fluorine, q is 1 to 20, and D is where r and rʹ are independently 1 to 20, and p is 0 to 4, and a chiral hydrocarbon terminal portion, said terminal portions being connected by a central core, said compounds having tilted smectic mesophases or having latent tilted smectic mesophases which develop when said compounds having said latent mesophases are in admixture with said compounds having tilted smectic mesophases or said compounds having latent tilted smectic mesophases.

Claim 3

The compounds of claim 1 wherein said compounds have a suppressed cholesteric phase.

Claim 4

The compounds of claim 1 wherein said compounds are represented by the formula where M, N, and P are each independently a, b, and c are each independently zero or an integer of from 1 to 3 with the proviso that the sum of a+b+c be at least 2; each A and B are independently nil, each X, Y and Z are independently -H, -Cl, -F, -OCH₃ -CH₃, -NO₂, -OH, -Br, -I, or -CN; each 1, m, and n are independently zero or an integer of 1 to 4; where r and rʹ are independently 1 to 20, and p is 0 to 4: where and q and qʹ are independently 1 to 20 with the proviso that R is chiral; R f is -C q F 2q -X or -C q F 2q -O-C qʹ F 2qʹ -X where X is H or F and q and qʹ are independently 1 to 20.

Claim 5

A liquid crystal display device containing the composition of claim 1.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein said device is surface-stabilized.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4 wherein said device is non-surface-stabilized.

Claim 8

The device of claim 4 wherein said device is optically addressable.

Claim 9

The device of claim 4 further comprising at least one pleochroic dye.

Claim 10

A process for preparing the ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds of claim 3 comprising the steps of (1) mixing at least one compound represented by the formula with at least one compound represented by the formula or (2) mixing at least one compound represented by the formula with at least one compound represented by the formula where M, N, and P are each independently a, b, and c are each independently zero or an integer of from 1 to 3 with the proviso that the sum of a+b+c be at least 2; each A and B are independently nil, each Aʹ, A,ʺ, Bʹ, and Bʺ, are independently -OH, -COOH, -SH, -SeH, -TeH, -NH₂, -COCl, -CHO, or -CH₂COOH with the proviso that A, can enter into an addition or condensation reaction with Aʺ, and Bʹ can enter into an addition or condensation reaction with Bʺ; each X, Y, and Z are independently -H, -Cl, -F, -OCH₃, -OH, -CH₃, -No₂, -Br, -I, or -CN; each 1, m, and n are independently zero or an integer of 1 to 4; and q and qʹ are independently 1 to 20, with the proviso that R is chiral; where r and rʹ are independently 1 to 20, and p is 0 to 4; R f is -C q F 2q -X or -C q F 2q -O-C qʹ F 2qʹ -X, where X is H or F, and q and qʹ are independently 1 to 20; and allowing said Aʹ and Aʺ or Bʹ and Bʺ to react in the presence of suitable coupling agents.

Claim 11

A compound useful in the preparation of chiral smectic liquid crystal compounds comprising a compound represented by the formula: where Q is -Cl or -OCH₃ and x is 1 to 20.

Claim 12

A compound useful in the preparation of chiral smectic liquid crystal compounds comprising a compound represented by the formula: where Q is -Cl or -OCH₃ and x is 1 to 20.

Claim 13

A compound useful in the preparation of fluorinated chiral smectic liquid crystal compounds comprising the compound represented by the formula where J is -OH, -COOH, or -CHO, y is 1 to 20, z and zʹ are independently 1 to 20, and R‴ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Claim 14

A compound useful in the preparation of fluorinated chiral smectic liquid crystal compounds comprising the compound represented by the formula where J is -OH, -COOH, or -CHO, y is 1 to 20, z and zʹ are independently 1 to 20, and R‴ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.