Cholesteric liquid crystal additives

A cholesteric liquid crystal composition comprising:

• at least one cholesteric liquid crystal precursor;
• and
• at least one non-liquid crystalline additive of formula I
• where M, N, and Q are each independently:
• b and c are each independently zero or 1;
• W, X, and V are each non-directionally and independently a covalent bond, —C(═O)—O—, —C(═O)—S—, —C(═O)—Se—, —C(═O)—Te—, —(CH2)k— where k is 1 to 8, —(CH═CH)—, —(C≡C)—, —CH═N—, —CH2—O—, —C(═O)—, —O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, or a combination thereof;
• Y, Z, and U are each independently —H, —Cl, —F, —Br, —I, —OH, —O(CH2)jCH3 where j is 0 to 8, —CH3, —CF3, —OCF3, —CN, —NO2, aryl, arylalkoxy, carboxylic acid, thioether, or an amide;
• e, f, and g are each independently zero, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• h is 1, 2, or 3;
• and
• R is —H, —OH, —CN, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 alkoxy, an aryl group, an arylalkoxy group, a carboxylic acid group, a halogen, a thioether, or an amide.