Liquid crystals comprising cyclopentane groups

Abstract

Provided are liquid crystal compounds and mixtures incorporating the same. The liquid crystal compounds of the invention generally comprise a cyclopentane group and at least two other rings. In one embodiment, the liquid crystal compounds of the invention comprise a cyclopentane group and at least two other rings, one of which is a fused ring system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A compound having the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         R is selected from the group consisting of H and unsubstituted or substituted alkyl each having 1-12 carbon atoms wherein the substitutions are independently one or more of halogen or CN, wherein one or more —CH 2 — groups of the alkyl groups may independently be replaced with —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— or —CH═CH—, provided that heteroatoms are not connected directly, except as permitted in the listed groups; 
         A and B are each independently selected from the group consisting of: 1,4-cyclohexyl, in which one —CH 2 — or two not directly linked —CH 2 — can be replaced by O or S; 1,4-cyclohexenyl; piperidine-1,4-diyl; 1,4-bicyclo[2,2,2]octylene; 1,4-phenyl, which may be substituted with one or more halogens; Pyridin-5,2-dyl; pyrimidin-5,2-diyl; naphthalene-2,6-diyl; trans-decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl; tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl; indane; indene; phenanthryl; and dibenzofuran, which may each independently in each instance be independently substituted with one or more halogens and/or one or more X 1 -X 4  substitutents; 
         Z 1  is a single bond or C 1-7  unsubstituted or substituted alkylene, wherein the substitutions are independently one or more of halogen or CN, wherein one or more —CH 2 — groups of the alkyl groups may each independently be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O— or —CH═CH— provided that heteroatoms are not connected directly to each other except as permitted in the listed groups; 
         Z 2  and Z 3  are each independently selected from the group consisting of: a single bond, —(CH 2 ) 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 4 —, —CH═CHCH 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 CH═CH—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 CF 2 —, —CF═CF—, —CH 2 CF 2 —, —CF 2 CH 2 —, —OCF 2 CF 2 O—, —C 2 H 4 CF 2 O—, —CH 2 CF 2 OCH 2 —, —CH 2 OCF 2 CH 2 —, —OCF 2 C 2 H 4 —, —C 3 H 6 O—, —CO 3 H 6 —, —C 2 H 4 OCH 2 —, —CH 2 OC 2 H 4 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, and —COO—; 
         n, m and K are each independently 0, 1, or 2, and m+K+n≧2; 
         X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , and X 4  are each independently selected from the group consisting of: H, F, Cl, CF 3 , CHF 2 , OCF 3 , OCF 2 H and CN; 
         Y is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, —F, —Cl, —CN, —NCS, —OCHF 2 , —CHF 2 , —OCF 3 , —OCF 2 CF 3 , —CF 3 , C 1-20  alkyl, C 1-20  alkoxy, C 1-20  alkenyl, and C 1-20  alkenyloxy, wherein the alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, and alkenyloxy groups may be independently substituted by one or more halogens; 
         wherein one or more hydrogen atoms in Formula I may be replaced with deuterium; 
         provided that when R═H and Y has less than 2 carbon atoms and X 3 , X 4  are H or when R═H and Y has two or more carbon atoms and Z 1  has more than 3 carbon atoms, there must be a fused ring system present in the compound or one of Z 1 , Z 2  and Z 3  must be selected from the group consisting of: C1-C3 alkylene, —CH═CHCH 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 CH═CH—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 CF 2 —, —CF═CF—, —CH 2 CF 2 —, —CF 2 CH 2 —, —OCF 2 CF 2 O—, —C 2 H 4 CF 2 O—, —CH 2 CF 2 OCH 2 —, —CH 2 OCF 2 CH 2 —, —OCF 2 C 2 H 4 —, —C 3 H 6 O—, —CO 3 H 6 —, —C 2 H 4 OCH 2 —, —CH 2 OC 2 H 4 —, and —CH═CH—; 
         and provided that when R is not H and Y does not contain a —CF 2 — group, either one of A and B is selected from the group consisting of: 1,4-cyclohexene, in which one or two not directly linked —CH 2 — groups are optionally replaced by —O— or —S—; Pyridin-5,2-diyl; pyrimidin-5,2-diyl; indane; indene; phenanthryl, and dibenzofuran; or one of Z 1 , Z 2  and Z 3  must be selected from the group consisting of: —(CH 2 ) 4 —, —CH═CHCH 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 CH═CH—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 CF 2 —, —CF═CF—, —CH 2 CF 2 —, —CF 2 CH 2 —, —OCF 2 CF 2 O—, —C 2 H 4 CF 2 O—, —CH2CF 2 OCH 2 —, —CH 2 OCF 2 CH 2 —, —OCF 2 C 2 H 4 —, —C 3 H 6 O—, —OC 3 H 6 —, —C 2 H 4 OCH 2 —, —CH 2 OC 2 H 4 —, —CH═CH—, and —C≡C—. 
       
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1  having a positive dielectric constant. 
     
     
         3 . The compound of  claim 2 , having formula I-1 through I-17 as shown herein. 
     
     
         4 . The compound of  claim 1  having a negative dielectric constant. 
     
     
         5 . The compound of  claim 4 , having formula I-18 through I-47 as shown herein. 
     
     
         6 . A liquid crystal mixture having positive dielectric constant comprising a compound of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 6 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one compound of formula II-XVI as shown herein. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 6 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one compound of formula XVII-XXIII as shown herein. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 6 , wherein the mixture comprises at least one compound of formula II-XVI as shown herein and at least one compound of formula XVII-XXIII as shown herein. 
     
     
         10 . A liquid crystal mixture having negative dielectric constant comprising a compound of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The mixture of  claim 10 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one compound of formula XXIV-XLIV as shown herein. 
     
     
         12 . The mixture of  claim 10 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one compound of formula XLV-XLVIII as shown herein. 
     
     
         13 . The mixture of  claim 10 , wherein the mixture further comprises at least one compound of formula XXIV-XLIV as shown herein and at least one compound of formula XLV-XLVIII as shown herein. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising a compound of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising a mixture of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         16 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein one or more hydrogen atoms in any ring is substituted with deuterium. 
     
     
         17 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein one or more hydrogen atoms in any non-ring structure is substituted with deuterium.