Disubstituted ethanes

Claim 2

A compound of the formula ##STR38## wherein R 2 is --R 3 , --OR 3 , --CO--R 3 , --CO--OR 3 or --O--CO--R 3 , R 1 and R 3 each are straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is 1 or 2.

Claim 3

The compound of claim 1 wherein R 2 is --R 3 , --OR 3 or --CO--OR 3 .

Claim 4

The compound of claim 2 wherein R 2 is --R 3 or --OR 3 .

Claim 5

The compound of claim 1 wherein n is 1.

Claim 6

The compound of claim 1 wherein R 3 is straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Claim 7

The compound of claim 5 wherein R 3 is straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 7 carbon atoms.

Claim 8

The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is straight-chain alkyl of 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

Claim 9

The compound of claim 7 wherein R 1 is straight-chain alkyl of 3 to 7 carbon atoms.

Claim 10

The compound of claim 1 wherein R 1 is straight-chain alkyl of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, R 2 is --R 3 or --OR 3 , R 3 is straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 7 carbon atoms and n is 1.

Claim 11

A liquid crystalline mixture comprising at least two components at least one of which is a compound of the formula ##STR39## wherein R 2 is --R 3 , --OR 3 , --CO--R 3 , --CO--OR 3 or --O--CO--R 3 , R 1 and R 3 each are straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is 1 or 2.

Claim 12

A liquid crystalline mixture comprising at least two components at least one of which is a compound of the formula ##STR39## wherein R 2 is --R 3 , --OR 3 , --CO--R 3 , --CO--OR 3 or --O--CO--R 3 , R 1 and R 3 each are straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is 1 or 2.

Claim 13

The liquid crystalline mixture of claim 10 wherein the other component comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: a compound of the formula ##STR40## wherein ring C is saturated; ring B is saturated or aromatic; R 13 is straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 11 carbon atoms; R 14 is cyano, straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 11 carbon atoms or an ester of the formula ##STR41## wherein ring A is either aromatic and X is oxygen or sulphur and R 15 is cyano or straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or ring A is trans-1,4-disubstituted cyclohexane and X is oxygen and R 15 is cyano or a straight-chain alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms; with the proviso that when ring B is saturated, it is trans-linked with ring C; with the additional proviso that when ring B is saturated, R 14 may also be straight-chain alkoxy of 1 to 11 carbon atoms; and with the further proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl and alkoxy groups within Compound XXI is at most 12; a compound of the formula ##STR42## wherein R 16 is straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 11 carbon atoms; R 17 is cyano, straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 11 carbon atoms or ester XXII hereinbefore in which X, A and R 15 are as above; with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl and alkoxy groups within Compound XXIII is at most 12; a compound of the formula ##STR43## wherein Y is nitrogen and Z is ═CH--, or Z is nitrogen and Y is ═CH--; R 18 is alkyl and R 19 is cyano, alkyl, p-alkylphenyl or trans-4-alkylcyclohexyl; where each alkyl denotes either a straight-chain alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a branched-chain alkyl group of the formula C 2 H 5 --CH(CH 3 )--(CH 2 )-- m , m is 1, 2 or 3; with the proviso that the compound contains at most only one of said branched-chain alkyl group and with the further proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms in all of the alkyl groups within Compound XXIV is at most 14; and a compound of the formula ##STR44## wherein ring A is aromatic or a trans-1,4-disubstituted cyclohexane ring; R 24 is methyl, --CH 2 R', --OR', --CO--R', --CN, --COOH, --CO--OR', --CO--SR' or --O--CO--R'; R 23 is hydrogen, methyl, --CH 2 R, --OR or --CH 2 OR, or when R 24 is methyl, --CH 2 R', --OR' or --CO--R', R 23 also can be --CN, --COOH, --CO--OR, --CO--SR or --O--CO--R; R and R' each are alkyl; and R 23 and R 24 each have up to 12 carbon atoms and together have at most 14 carbon atoms.

Claim 14

The liquid crystalline mixture of claim 10 wherein the other component comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: a compound of the formula ##STR45## wherein R 29 is straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy of 2 to 7 carbon atoms; a compound of the formula ##STR46## wherein R 30 is straight-chain alkyl of 3 to 7 carbon atoms; a compound of the formula ##STR47## wherein R 30 is as above, a compound of the formula ##STR48## wherein R 30 is as above; a compound of the formula ##STR49## wherein R 31 is straight-chain alkyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms; a compound of the formula ##STR50## wherein R 30 is as above and R 32 is cyano or straight-chain alkoxy of 1 to 3 carbon atoms; a compound of the formula ##STR51## wherein R 31 is as above; and a compound of the formula ##STR52## wherein R 30 is as above.

Claim 15

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-pentylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-ethoxyphenyl)ethane.

Claim 16

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-ethoxyphenyl)ethane.

Claim 17

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-butyloxyphenyl)ethane.

Claim 18

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-pentylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-butyloxyphenyl)ethane.

Claim 19

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-butylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-ethoxyphenyl)ethane.

Claim 20

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-pentylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-propylphenyl)ethane.

Claim 21

In accordance with claim 9, 2-(trans-4-heptylcyclohexyl)-1-(p-butylphenyl)ethane.

Claim 22

An electro-optical cell comprising (a) two plate means; (b) liquid crystal means disposed between the two plate means and including a compound of the formula: ##STR53## wherein R 2 is --R 3 , --OR 3 , --CO--R 3 , --CO--OR 3 or --O--CO--R 3 , R 1 and R 3 each are straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is 1 or 2; and (c) means for applying an electric potential to said plate means.

Claim 23

An electro-optical cell comprising (a) two plate means; (b) liquid crystal means disposed between the two plate means and including a compound of the formula: ##STR53## wherein R 2 is --R 3 , --OR 3 , --CO--R 3 , --CO--OR 3 or --O--CO--R 3 , R 1 and R 3 each are straight-chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is 1 or 2; and (c) means for applying an electric potential to said plate means.