Dispirotetradecanes

Abstract

Dispirotetradecanes of the formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently of each other alkyl containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms wherein one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may also be replaced by --O--, --CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --O--COO-- and/or --CH.dbd.CH-- (trans), one of the radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 also being H, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO.sub.2, NCS, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are each independently of each other trans-1,4-cyclohexylene wherein one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by --O-- and/or --S--, or 1,4-phenylene wherein one or more CH groups may also be replaced by N, with it also being possible optionally for A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 to be substituted laterally or axially by F, Cl, CN, CH.sub.3, Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are each independently of each other --C--O--, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 -- or a single bond, m and n are each 0, 1 or 2, (m+n) 0, 1 or 2, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3 and X.sup.4 are each independently of each other H, F, Cl or CN, and one or both of the groups CX.sup.1 X.sup.2 and CX.sup.3 X.sup.4 may also be C.dbd.O, may be used as components of liquid-crystalline phases.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.