Terpenoid derivatives and liquid crystal materials and devices containing them

Abstract

Novel derivatives of cyclic and acyclic terpenoid alcohols, having general formula (I) X--(CO).sub.n --O--T.sub.1, where n=O or l, T.sub.1 is a terpenoid group and X is a combination of cyclic groups, e.g. phenyl, cyclohexyl and pyrimidyl, X preferably contains up to three cyclic groups. Preferred derivatives are esters of cyclic terpenoid alcohols, e.g. menthol, borneol and isopineocampheol, e.g. formula (II) (-)-menthol. Ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures and devices containing these derivatives as chiral dopants in a tilted smectic host are also described. The properties of various other derivatives of terpenoid alcohols of formula (I) are also described, e.g. those of neomenthol, isolongifolol, fenchol, carveol, myrthenol, nopol, citronellol, perilla alcohol and dihydrocitronellol.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.