Dichoric mixture

A mesogenic, crosslinkable mixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the straight-chain or branched alkyl group is selected from the group comprising methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, 3-methylpentyl, allyl, but-3-en-1-yl, pent-4-en-1-yl, hex-5-en-1-yl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, pentyloxy, isopentyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, hexyloxy, cyclohexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, undecyloxy, dodecyloxy, 3-methylpentyloxy, allyloxy, but-3-enyloxy, pent-4-enyloxy, cylohexylmethoxy, cyclopentylmethoxy, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, isobutoxycarbonyl, sec-butoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, pentyloxycarbonyl, isopentyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentyloxycarbonyl, hexyloxycarbonyl, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl, octyloxycarbonyl, nonyloxycarbonyl, decyloxycarbonyl, undecyloxycarbonyl, dodecyloxycarbonyl, 3-methylpentyloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, but-3-enyloxycarbonyl, pent-4-enyloxycarbonyl, cylohexylmethoxycarbonyl, cyclopentylmethoxycarbonyl, acetoxy, ethylcarbonyloxy, propylcarbonyloxy, isopropylcarbonyloxy, butylcarbonyloxy, isobutylcarbonyloxy, sec-butylcarbonyloxy, tert-butylcarbonyloxy, pentylcarbonyloxy, isopentylcarbonyloxy, cyclopentylcarbonyloxy, hexylcarbonyloxy, cyclohexylcarbonyloxy, octylcarbonyloxy, nonylcarbonyloxy, decylcarbonyloxy, undecylcarbonyloxy, dodecylcarbonyloxy, 3-methylpentylcarbonyloxy, but-3-enyloxy, pent-4-enyloxy, acetyl, ethylcarbonyl, propylcarbonyl, isopropylcarbonyl, butylcarbonyl, isobutylcarbonyl, sec-butylcarbonyl, pentylcarbonyl, isopentylcarbonyl, cyclohexylcarbonyl, octylcarbonyl, nonylcarbonyl, decylcarbonyl, undecylcarbonyl, dodecylcarbonyl, methoxyacetoxy, 1-methoxy-2-propoxy, 3-methoxy-1-propoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy, 2-isopropoxyethoxy, 1-ethoxy-3-pentyloxy, 3-butynyloxy, 4-pentynyloxy, 5-chloropentynyl, 4-pentynecarbonyloxy, 6-propyloxyhexyl, 6-propyloxyhexyloxy, 2-fluoroethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1H,1 H-pentadecafluorooctyl, 1H,1H,7H-dodecafluoroheptyl, 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl, 2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl, 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl, 2-(perfluorodecyl)ethyl, perfluoropropyl, perfluorobutyl, perfluoroheptyl, perfluorooctyl, perfluorononyl, 1-fluoropropoxy, 1-fluoropentyloxy, 2-fluoropropoxy, 2,2-difluoropropoxy, 3-fluoropropoxy, 3,3-difluoropropoxy, 3,3,3-trifluoropropoxy, and trifluoromethoxy.

A mesogenic, crosslinkable mixture according to any preceding claim, wherein S1 and S2 are selected from the group comprising —(CH2)r—, —(CH2)r—O—, —(CH2)r—CO—, —(CH2)r—CO—O—, —(CH2)r—O—CO—, —(CH2)r—CO—NR2—, —(CH2)r—NR2—CO—, —(CH2)r—NR2—, —(CH2)r—O—(CH2)s—, —(CH2)r—CO—O—(CH2)s—, —(CH2)r—O—CO—(CH2)s—, —(CH2)r—NR2—CO—(CH2)s—, —(CH2)r—NR2—CO—O—(CH2)s—, —(CH2)r—O—(CH2)s—O—, —(CH2)r—CO—O—(CH2)s—O—, —(CH2)r—O—CO—(CH2)s—O—, —(CH2)r—NR2—CO—(CH2)s—O —, —(CH2)r—NR2—CO—O—(CH2)s—O—, —O—(CH2)r—, —CO—O—(CH2)r—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—, —NR2—CO—(CH2)r—, —CO—NR2—(CH2)r—, —NR2—(CH2)r—, —O—(CH2)r—CO—O—, —O—(CH2)r—O—CO—, —O—(CH2)r—CO—NR2—, —O—(CH2)r—NR2—, —O—(CH2)r—O—, —O—(CH2)r—NR2—CO—, —NR2—(CH2)r—CO—O—, —NR2—(CH2)r—O—, —NR2—(CH2)r—NR2—, —NR2—(CH2)r—O—CO—, —CO—NR2—(CH2)r—O—, —CO—NR2—(CH2)r—NR2—, —CO—NR2—(CH2)r—O—CO—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—CO—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—O—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—NR2—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—CO—O—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—CO—NR2—, —O—CO—(CH2)r—NR2—CO—, —O—(CH2)r—O—(CH2)s—, —O—(CH2)r—CO—O—(CH2)s—, —O—(CH2)r—NR2—CO—(CH2)s—, —O—(CH2)r—NR2—CO—O—(CH2)s—, —O—(CH2)r—CO—O—(CH2)s—O—, —O—(CH2)r—O—(CH2)s—O—, —O—(CH2)r—NR2—CO—(CH2)s—O—, —O—(CH2)r—NR2—CO—O—(CH2)s—O—, —CO—O—(CH2)r—O—(CH2)s—, —CO—O—(CH2)r—O—(CH2)s—O—, wherein r and s are each an integer from 1 to 20, the sum of r+s≦21, wherein R2 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl, and which are attached to the dichroic residue and the polymerisable group, respectively, such that heteroatoms are not directly linked to each other.

A mesogenic, crosslinkable mixture according to any preceding claim, wherein S1 is selected from the group comprising 1,2-ethylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, 1,6-hexylene, 1,7-heptylene, 1,8-octylene, 1,9-nonylene, 1,10-decylene, 1,11-undecylene, 1,12-dodecylene, 3-methyl-1,4-butylene, 3-propyleneoxy, 3-propyleneoxycarbonyl, 2-ethylenecarbonyloxy, 4-butyleneoxy, 4-butyleneoxycarbonyl, 3-propylenecarbonyloxy, 5-pentyleneoxy, 5-pentyleneoxycarbonyl, 4-butylenecarbonyloxy, 6-hexyleneoxy, 6-hexyleneoxycarbonyl, 5-pentylenecarbonyloxy, 7-heptyleneoxy, 7-heptyleneoxycarbonyvl, 6-hexylenecarbonyloxy, 8-octyleneoxy, 8-octyleneoxycarbonyl, 7-heptylenecarbonyloxy, 9-nonyleneoxy, 9-nonyleneoxycarbonyl, 8-octylenecarbonyloxy, 10-decyleneoxy, 10-decyleneoxycarbonyl, 9-nonylenecarbonyloxy, 11-undecyleneoxy, 11-undecyleneoxycarbonyl, 10-decylenecarbonyloxy, 12-dodecyleneoxy, 12-dodecyleneoxycarbonyl, 11-undecylenecarbonyloxy, 3-propyleneiminocarbonyl, 4-butyleneiminocarbonyl, 5-pentyleneiminocarbonyl, 6-hexyleneiminocarbonyl, 7-heptyleneiminocarbonyl, 8-octyleneiminocarbonyl, 9-nonyleneiminocarbonyl, 10-decyleneiminocarbonyl, 11-undecyleneiminocarbonyl, 12-dodecyleneiminocarbonyl, 2-ethylenecarbonylimino, 3-propylenecarbonylimino, 4-butylenecarbonylimino, 5-pentylenecarbonylirnino, 6-hexylenecarbonylimino, 7-heptylenecarbonylimino, 8-octylenecarbonylimino, 9-nonylenecarbonylimino, 10-decylenecarbonylimino, 11-undecylenecarbonylimino, 6-(3-propyleneirninocarbonyloxy)hexyl, 6-(3-propyleneoxy)hexyl, 6-(3-propyleneoxy)hexyloxy, 6-(3-propyleneiminocarbonyloxy)hexyloxy, 6-(3-propyleneiminocarbonyl)hexyl, 6-(3-propyleneimninocarbonyl)hexyloxy, 1,2-ethylenedioxy, 1,3-propylenedioxy, 1,4-butylenedioxy, 1,5-pentylenedioxy, 1,6-hexylenedioxy, 1,7-heptylenedioxy, 1,8-octylenedioxy, 1,9-nonylenedioxy, 1,10-decylenedioxy, 1,11-undecylenedioxy, and 1,12-dodecylenedioxy.

A mesogenic, crosslinkable mixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the polymerisable groups P are selected from the group of CH2═CW—, CH2═CW—COO—, CH2═CH—CO—NH—, CH2═C(Ph)—CO—NH—, CH2═CH—O—, CH2—═CH—OOC—, Ph—CH═CH—, CH2═CH—Ph—, CH2═CH—Ph—O—, R3—Ph—CH═CH—COO—, R3—OOC—CH═CH—Ph—O—, N-maleinimidyl, wherein

• W is hydrogen, chloro or methyl,
• R3 is lower alkyl or lower alkoxy,
• Ph— is phenyl, and
• —Ph— is 1,4-phenylene.

A mesogenic, crosslinkable mixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the dichroic dye is an azo dye of the formulae III-V:

• R4—Ar1—N═N—Ar2—B1 IIIR4—Ar1—N═N—Ar2—N═N—Ar3—B1 IVR4—Ar1—N═N—Ar2—N═N—Ar3—N═N—Ar4—B1 V
• wherein
• R4 represents hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —NR2R3, a three- to seven-membered cyclic amino group, —CR2═CR3—NO2, —CR2═CR3—CN, —CR2═C(CN)2, or a straight chain or branched alkyl residue, which is unsubstituted, mono- or poly-substituted by fluorine having 1-18 carbon atoms, wherein one or more of the non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —NR2—CO—, —CO—NR2—, —NR2—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR2—,—CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—CO—O—, wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, Ar4 independently of each other are 1,4-phenylene, 1,4- or 1,5-naphthylene optionally substituted by fluorine, chlorine, hydroxy, —NR2R3 or by a straight chain or branched alkyl residue, which is unsubstituted, mono- or poly-substituted by fluorine having 1-12 carbon atoms, wherein one or more of the non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —NR2—CO—, —CO—NR2—, —NR2—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—CO—O—, wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• and
• wherein Ar1 is also a group of formula a) to c)
• 26
• wherein p is an integer of 1 to 3 and R4 of formulae III to V is attached to the nitrogen atom;
• and
• B1 has the meaning given above.

A dichroic dye of the formulae IV or V:

• R4—Ar1—N═N—Ar2—N═N—Ar3—B1 IVR4—Ar1—N═N—Ar2—N═N—Ar3—N═N—Ar4—B1 V
• wherein
• R4 represents hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —NR2R3, a three- to seven-membered cyclic amino group, —CR2═CR3—NO2, —CR2═CR3—CN, —CR2═C(CN)2, or a straight chain or branched alkyl residue, which is unsubstituted, mono- or poly-substituted by fluorine having 1-18 carbon atoms, wherein one or more of the non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —NR2—CO—, —CO—NR2—, —NR2—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—CO—O—, wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, Ar4 independently of each other are 1,4-phenylene, 1,4- or 1,5-naphthylene optionally substituted by fluorine, chlorine, hydroxy, —NR2R3 or by a straight chain or branched alkyl residue, which is unsubstituted, mono- or poly-substituted by fluorine having 1-12 carbon atoms, wherein one or more of the non-adjacent CH2 groups may independently be replaced by —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —NR2—CO—, —CO—NR2—, —NR2—CO—O—, —O—CO—NR2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—CO—O—, wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or lower alkyl;
• and
• wherein Ar1 is also a group of formula a) to c)
• 28
• wherein p is an integer of 1 to 3 and R4 of formulae III to V is attached to the nitrogen atom;
• and
• B1 represents a group of substructure II
• 29
• wherein the broken line symbolises the linkage to said dichroic residue and wherein:
• A1, A2, A3, S1, S2, Z1, Z2, m1, m2, m3 and o have the same meaning given above, and
• P represents CH2═CW—, CH2═CW—COO—, CH2═CH—CO—NH—, CH2═C(Ph)—CO—NH—, CH2═CH—O—, CH2═CH—OOC—, Ph—CH═CH—, CH2═CH—Ph—O—, R3—Ph—CH═CH—COO—, R3—OOC—CH═CH—Ph—O—, N-maleinimidyl,
• wherein
• W is hydrogen, chloro or methyl,
• R3 is lower alkyl or lower alkoxy,
• Ph— is phenyl, and
• —Ph— is 1,4-phenylene.

A dichroic dye of the formulae VI-X:

• 30
• wherein one to four hydrogen atoms are substituted by the groups of B1 to B4 either at carbon or nitrogen atoms, and wherein
• B1 to B4 represent a group of substructure II
• 31
• wherein the broken line symbolises the linkage to said dichroic residue and wherein:
• A1, A2, A3, S1, S2, Z1, Z2, m1, m2, m3 and o have the same meaning given above, and
• P represents CH2═CW—, CH2═CW—COO—, CH2═CH—CO—NH—, CH2═C(Ph)—CO—NH—, CH2═CH—O—, CH2═CH—OOC—, Ph—CH═CH—, CH2═CH—Ph—O—, R3—Ph—CH═CH—COO—, R3—OOC—CH═CH—Ph—O—, N-maleinimidyl,
• wherein
• W is hydrogen, chloro or methyl,
• R3 is lower alkyl or lower alkoxy,
• Ph— is phenyl, and
• —Ph— is 1,4-phenylene,
• with the provision that at most one of B1to B4 is attached to the same nitrogen atom.