Nematic compounds

Abstract

Nematic compounds with a negative DC antisotropy, characterized by the formula I ##STR1## in which m=1 or 2, r is zero or 1 and m+r=1 or 2, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are selected from alkyl and alkoxy groups each having 1-12 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain, which may be chiral, Z is a bridge member selected from a single bond and the groups of the formulae --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 --, --O--CO-- or --CO--O--, one of the groups X and Y is selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and cyano and the other of the groups X and Y is selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine and cyano, with the proviso that m=r=1 if X and Y are both cyano, are suitable as components for liquid crystal mixtures having an overall negative DC anisotropy, such as are required in particular for electro-optical displays of the type of guest/host displays or homotropic-nematic displays.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.