Liquid crystal compositions

A process for preparing a composition comprising:

• (a) providing one or more organic polyol(s) comprising at least two hydroxyl groups and at least two covalently bonded carbon atoms, each hydroxyl group being bonded to a different carbon atom within an organic polyol;
• (b) reacting the organic polyol(s), optionally in the presence of a base, with
• (i) one or more functionalized alkyl acid(s) or acid halide(s) represented by the structure of the following Formula (X):
• Z—(CH2)n—C(O)X (X)
• wherein X is Cl, Br, I, or OH;
• Z is Br, I, —OTs, —OTf, or —OMs;
• and n is an integer equal to 3 to 20;
• and
• (ii) one or more non-functionalized alkyl acid(s) or acid halide(s) represented by the structures of the following Formula (XI):
• Y—(CH2)t—C(0)X (XI)
• wherein X is Cl, Br, I, or OH;
• Y is H;
• and t is an integer equal to 3 to 20;
• in a first reaction solvent at a first reaction temperature to provide a mixture comprising an intermediate composition and a first spent reaction mixture, the intermediate composition comprising at least one compound of the group of compounds represented by the structures of each of the following Formulas (I), (II) and (III),
• wherein
• n1, n2, n3, n4, n5, and n6 are each independently integers 3 to 20;
• m and p are each independently integers 0, 1, or 2;
• A is a divalent radical selected from the group:
• wherein R3 through R10 are each independently selected from the group:
• H, C1 to C8 straight or branched chain alkyl, C1 to C8 straight or branched chain alkyloxy, F, Cl, phenyl, —C(O)CH3, CN, and CF3;
• X2 is a divalent radical selected from the group:
• —O—, —(CH3)2C—, and —(CF3)2C—;
• and each B1 and B2 is a divalent radical independently selected from the group:
• R11-substituted-1,4-phenyl, wherein R11 is H, —CH3 or —OCH3;
• 2,6-naphthyl;
• and 4,4′-biphenyl;
• with the proviso that when m+p is equal to 3 or 4, at least two of B1 and B2 are R11-substituted-1,4-phenyl and
• (c) reacting the intermediate composition with a (meth)acrylate salt in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and a second reaction solvent at a second reaction temperature to provide a product mixture comprising a composition, and a second spent reaction mixture.