LIQUID CRYSTAL ALKENYL BICYCLO[2.2.2]OCTANES AND MIXTURES AND DEVICES CONTAINING SUCH COMPOUNDS

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) are provided which are particularly useful in STN devices, wherein n may be 0-5; m may be 1-5; p may be 1-9; q may be 0, 1 or 2; A1, A2 are independently chosen from 1,4-disubstituted benzene, 2,5-disubstituted pyrimidine, or 2,5-disubstituted pyridine, trans- 1,4-disubstituted cyclohexane, trans- 2,5-disubstituted dioxane; the aromatic rings may be laterally substituted with F, Cl, Br or CN; Z1 may be O, COO, OOC; Z2, Z3 are independently chosen from a direct bond, COO, OOC, C2H4, CH2O, OCH2, (a); provided that when Z1 is O and m is 1, 3 or 5, the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is E and when n is 2 or 4 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is Z and when Z1 is COO or OOC and m is 0, 2 or 4, the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is E and when n is 1, 3 or 5, the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is Z.

Description: Liquid Crystal Alkenyl Bicyclof2.2.2]octanes and Mixtures and Devices Containing Such Compounds The present invention describes new compounds In particular it describes compounds for use in liquid crystal mixtures and in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or in applications relating to inter alia thermography utilising nematic liquid crystal or chiral nematic liquid crystal mixtures LCDs, such as multiplexed Twisted Nematic TN-LCDs, Super Twisted Nematic STN-LCDs, Super Birefπngent SBE-LCDs, Electrically Controlled Birefringence ECB-LCDs or flexoelectπc LCDs are currently used or being developed for computer monitors, laptop or notebook computers, portable telephones, personal digital assistants, etc The optical electrical and temporal performance, e g , contrast threshold and driving voltages, and response times, of such displays depends crucially on the ratios of the elastic constants (k33, K22- kl 1 ) Currently commercially available nematic mixtures for sophisticated high- information-content LCDs, such as STN-LCDs, generally incorporate trans- 1 , 4- disubstituted-cyclohexyl derivatives with a terminal alkenyl chain (i e , incorporating a carbon-carbon double bond) directly attached to the cyclohexane ring in order to produce the necessary elastic constant ratios for short response times, high multiplexing rates and low driving voltages Such materials are costly and difficult to synthesise due to the requirement for a trans configuration of the 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted cyclohexane ring and the necessity of synthesising the carbon-carbon double bond stepwise from this trans- 1 , 4- disubstituted-cyclohexyl intermediate If the carbon-carbon double bond is substituted at both carbon atoms, it must have a trans (E) configuration in order to exhibit an advantageous combination of elastic constants and to have an acceptably high nematic- isotropic transition temperature (N-l) The trans configuration is then generally produced by isomeπsation of the cis (Z) form generated by the preceding Wittig reaction Liquid crystalline bιcyclo[2 2 2)octanes are known and are described in for example GW Gray et al, J Chem. Soc Perkin II, (1981), pp 26-31 , N Carr et al (1981), Vol 66, pp 267- 282, (1985), Vot 129, pp 301-313, R Dabrowski, Mol Cryst Liq Cryst , (1991), Vol 209, pp 201-211 , R Dabrowski, Ferroelectπcs , (1991), Vol 114, pp 229-240 For all the above applications it is not usual for a single compound to exhibit all of the properties highlighted, normally mixtures of compounds are used which when mixed together induce the desired phases and required properties According to this invention compounds are provided of Formula I Formula I wherein n may be 0-5, m may be 1-5, p may be 1-9, q may be 0, 1 or 2, A 1 τ A 2 are independently chosen from 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted benzene, 2,5-dιsubstιtuted pyπmidine, or 2,5-dιsubstιtuted pyπdine, trans- 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted cyclohexane, trans- 2,5- disubstituted dioxane; the aromatic rings may be laterally substituted with F, Cl, Br or CN, Z may be O, COO, OOC, Z 2 , Z 3 are independently chosen from a direct bond, COO, OOC, C2H4, CH2O, OCH2 — c≡c — provided that when Z-, is O and m is 1 , 3 or 5 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is E and when n is 2 or 4 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is Z and when Z \ is COO or OOC and m is 0, 2 or 4 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is E and when n is 1 , 3 or 5 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is Z The structural and other preferences are expressed below on the basis of inter alia desirable liquid crystalline characteristics, in particular advantageous elastic constant ratios or flexoelectπc coefficients in the nematic phase, a wide nematic phase with a high nematic-isotropic liquid transition temperature, low smectic tendencies and ready synthesis from commercially available starting materials already incorporating the carbon-carbon double bond with the desired configuration and position Preferably n is 1-3, Preferably m is 1-3, Preferably n + m is < 7, Preferably p is 3-7, Preferably q is 0 or 1 , Preferably A-i is 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted benzene Preferably A 2 is trans- 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted cyclohexane, Preferably Z-, is O or COO, Preferably Z 2 and Z 3 are direct bonds Overall preferred structures for formula I are those listed below: Compounds of formula I can be prepared by various routes Typically the ethers can be prepared by the Mitsunobu reaction (Synthesis, (1981) pp 1 ) of a phenol with an alkenol in the presence of tπphenyl phosphine, a dehydrating agent, such as diethyl azodicarboxylate, and a suitable solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran or N, N'-dimethylformamide Alternatively they can be synthesised by alkylation of a secondary alcohol or phenol with the tosylate of the appropriate alkenol in the presence of a suitable base, such as potassium tert - butoxide, and a suitable solvent, such as tert -butyl-methyl ether or 1 , 2-dιmethoxyethane (J Mater Chem , (1994) Vol 4, pp 1673) The esters can be prepared by estenfication (Angewandte Chemie (1978) Vol 90, pp 556) of the appropriate phenol or secondary alcohol with an alkenoic acid in the presence of 4-(dιmethylamιno)pyrιdιne, a dehydrating agent, such as N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodnimide, and a suitable solvent, such as dichloromethane or N, N'-dimethylformamide Alternatively they can be synthesised by estenfication of the appropriate phenol or secondary alcohol with an alkenoic acid chloride (produced, for example, from the corresponding alkenoic acid by the action of thionyl chloride or oxalyl chloride) in the presence of a base, such as pyπdine or tnethylamine, and a suitable solvent, such as toluene or dichloromethane In the following examples C signifies the crystalline state, N the nematic phase, I the isotropic phase and ΔT M , the temperature range of the nematic phase The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following examples and diagrams Figure 1 is a plan view of a matrix multiplex addressed liquid crystal display, Figure 2 is a cross-section of a display such as Figure 1 used in a transmissive mode, Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 but operates in a reflective mode Example 1 Preparation of 1-(4-[(E )-hex-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane Tnphenylphosphine (0.34 g, 0.0013 mol) was added in small portions to a solution of (E )- hex-2-en-1-ol (0.13 g, 0 0013 mol), 4-{4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenol (0 35 g, 0.0013 mol), diethylazodicarboxylate (0.22 g, 0.0013 mol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath under an atmosphere of nitrogen The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9.1 petroleum ether (40-60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent, followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0 18 g (39%), K 69°C, SA-N 59 °C, N-l 134°C The following compounds could be obtained analogously 1 -(4-[(£ )-But-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(£ )-Pent-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1 -(4-[(E )-Hex-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(£ )-Hept-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-propylbicyclo[2.2 2]octane 1-(4-[(£ )-Oct-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-propylbicyclo[2 2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-But-2-enyioxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1-(4-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1 -(4-[(£ )-Hept-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-heptylbicyclo[2.2.2Joctane 1-(4-[(E )-Hex-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-heptylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1 -(4-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octane 1-(4-[(Z )-Hex-3-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(£ )-Hex-4-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octane 1-(4-[Hex-5-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1 -(4'-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1-(4'-[(E )-Hex-2-enyloxy]biphenyl-4-yl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1-(4'-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Hex-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1 -(4'-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(Z )-Hex-3-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Hex-4-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1 -(4'-[Hex-5-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Hex-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-(4'-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]bιphenyl-4-yl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane Example 2 Preparation of 4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hex-2-enoate A solution of N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0 22 g, 1 1 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 3 cm ) was added to a solution of (E )-hex-2-enoιc acid (0 10 g, 0 9 mmol) 4-(4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenol (0 24 g, 0 9 mmol), 4-(dιmethylamιno)pyrιdtne (0 04 g) in 3 dichloromethane (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath (0"C) under an atmosphere of nitrogen The reaction mixture was stirred overnight, filtered to remove precipitated material and the filtrate was evaporated down under reduced pressure The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 petroleum ether (40-60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent, followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0 13 g (40 %), K 70°C, N-l 134 °C The following compounds could be obtained analogously 4-(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octyl)phenyl (E )-but-2-enoate 4-(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-pent-2-enoate 4-(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hex-2-enoate -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hept-2-enoate. -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-oct-2-enoate. -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-but-2-enoate, K 76°C, N-l 154°C -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyi)phenyl (E )-pent-2-enoate, K 72°C, N-l 130°C -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hept-2-enoate, K 49°C, N-l 121°C -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-oct-2-enoate, K 63°C, N-l 122°C -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-but-2-enoate -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-pent-2-enoate -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hex-2-enoate. -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hept-2-enoate. -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-oct-2-enoate -(4-Hexylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (Z )-hex-3-enoate. -(4-Hexylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl (E )-hex-4-enoate. -(4-Hexylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl hex-5-enoate -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-but-2-enoate -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-pent-2-enoate -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hex-2-enoate. -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hept-2-enoate -(4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-oct-2-enoate. -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-but-2-enoate -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-pent-2-enoate. -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hex-2-enoate. -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hept-2-enoate -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-oct-2-enoate -(4-Pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (Z )-hex-3-enoate. -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hex-4-enoate. -(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl hex-5-enoate. -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyi)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-but-2-enoate. -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-pent-2-enoate. -(4-Heptylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hex-2-enoate. -(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)biphenyl-4'-yl (E )-hept-2-enoate. -(4-Heptylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)bιphenyl-4'-yl (E )-oct-2-enoate -[4-(trans- 5-[(E )-But-2-enoyloxy]dioxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane -[4-(.rans- 5-[(E )-Pent-2-enoyloxy]dioxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcy o[2.2.2]octane -[4-(trans- 5-[(E )-Hept-2-enoyloxy]dioxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane SUBSπRJTE SHEET (RULE 26) ^-[A-(trans- 5-[(E )-Oct-2-enoyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(frans- 5-[(Z )-Hex-3-enoyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1 -[4-(trans- 5-[(E )-Hex-4-enoyloxy] dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(rrans- 5-[Hex-5-enoyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane Example 3 Preparation of 1-[4-(frans- 4-[(£ )-hex-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane A mixture of toluene-4-sulfonιc acid (E )-hex-2-en-1-yl ester (1 0 g, 2 8 mmol), 1 -[A-(trans- 4-hydroxycyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (0 50 g, 1 4 mmol), potassium tert-butoxide (0 55 g, 4 5 mmol) and 1 , 2-dιmethoxyethane (20 cm 3 ) is stirred at room temperature overnight, filtered to remove inorganic material, diluted with water (100 cm 3 ) and then extracted into diethyl ether (3 x 50 cm 3 ) The combined organic extracts are washed with water (2 x 100 cm 3 ), dried (MgS04), filtered and then evaporated down The residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 hexane/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent and recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0 25 g (66 %) of the desired ether The toluene-4-sulfonιc acid (E )-hex-2-en-1-yl ester and 1-[4-(frans- 4- hydroxycyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane required as starting materials could be prepared as follows (a) A solution of toluene-4-sulfonyl chloride (0 75 g, 4 0 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 cm 3 ) is added slowly to a solution of (E )-hex-2-en-1-ol (0 39 g, 4 0 mmol), tπethylamine (0 80 g, 8 0 mmol) and dichloromethane (50 cm 3 ) at 0°C The reaction mixture is stirred at 0°C for 6 h, washed with dilute hydrochloric acid (2 x 50 cm 3 ), water (2 x 50 cm 3 ) and dilute sodium carbonate solution (2 x 50 cm 3 ), dried (MgSθ4), filtered and then evaporated down to yield 1 0 g (99 %) of the desired tosylate, which is used without further purification (b) A solution of 1-bromo-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (6 g, 23 mmol) in sieve-dried 3 nitrobenzene (100 cm ) is added dropwise to a stirred solution of 4-phenylcyclohexanone (3.9 g, 23 mmol) and anhydrous ιron(lll)chlorιde (1 2 g, 9 mmol) in sieve-dried nitrobenzene (100 cm ) maintained at 80°C throughout the addition and overnight The cooled solution is added to a small volume of hydrochloric acid and stirred for 20 min The organic layer is separated off and steam-distilled to yield a solid residue This is taken up in dichloromethane and dried (MgS04) The raw product is crystallised from ethanol to yield the desired 4-[4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexanone (5 4 g, 69 %) (c) 4-[4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexanone (1 5 g, 4 3 mmol) and a mixture of 9 1 methanol/ether (25 cm 3 ) is added dropwise to a freshly prepared mixture of sodium borohydnde (1 2 g, 8 5 mmol) and a mixture of 9 1 methanol/ether (25 cm 3 ) at 0°C When the addition is complete, the reaction mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature A 25 per cent hydrochloric acid solution is added carefully to the reaction mixture, which was extracted into ethyl acetate (3 x 50 cm 3 ). The combined organic extracts are washed with water (2 x 500 ml) and dilute sodium carbonate solution (2 x 500 ml), dried (MgSO4), filtered and then evaporated down The residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 7 3 hexane/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent and recrystallisation from ethanol to yield the pure 1-[4-(ιrans- 4-hydroxycyclohexyl)phenylj-4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (1 2 g, 80 per cent) The following compounds could be obtained analogously 1-[4-( rans- 4-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane .-[4-(trans- 4-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(frans- 4-[(£ )-Hept-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(frans- 4-[(£ )-Oct-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octane 1-[4-( rans- 4-[(£ )-But-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(.rans- 4-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenylJ-4-pentylbιcycio[2 2 2]octane ι-[4-(trans- 4-[(£ )-Hept-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-( rans- 4-[(£ )-Oct-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octane 1-[4-(rrans- 4-[(Z )-Hex-3-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(trans- 4-[(E )-Hex-4-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octane 1-[4-(.raπs- 4-[Hex-5-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(frans- 4-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(.rans- 4-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octane * \-[4-(trans- 4-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(.raπs- 4-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]cyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane Example 4 Preparation of trans- 4-[4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy!)phenyl]cyclohexyl (E )- hex-2-enoate 3 A solution of N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodnmide (0 22 g, 1 1 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 cm ) is added to a solution of (E )-hex-2-enoιc acid (0 10 g, 0 9 mmol), 1-[4-(frans- 4- hydroxycyclohexyl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (0 32 g, 0 9 mmol), 4- 3 (dιmethylamιno)pyrιdιne (0 04 g) in dichloromethane (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath (0°C) under an atmosphere of nitrogen The reaction mixture is stirred overnight, filtered to remove precipitated material and the filtrate is evaporated down under reduced pressure The crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 petroleum ether (40-60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent, followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield the desired ester (0 26 g, 64 %) The following compounds could be obtained analogously trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl (E )-but-2-enoate trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl (E )-pent-2-enoate trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl (E )-hept-2-enoate trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl (E )-oct-2-enoate trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl (Z )-hex-3-enoate trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl (E )-hex-4-enoate trans- 4-[4-(4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octyl)phenyl]cyclohexyl hex-5-enoate Example 5 Preparation of 1-[4-(5-[(£ )-hex-2-enyloxy]pyπmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane Tnphenylphosphine (0.34 g, 1.3 mmol) is added in small portions to a solution of (£ )-hex-2- en-1-ol (0 13 g, 1 3 mmol), 1-[4-(5-hydroxypyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4- pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane (0.38 g, 1 3 mmol), diethylazodicarboxylate (0 22 g, 1 3 mmol) in 3 dry tetrahydrofuran (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath under an atmosphere of nitrogen The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 petroleum ether (40-60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent, followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0 24 g (44 %) of the ether The 1-[4-(5-hydroxypyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane required as starting material could be prepared as follows (a) A solution of 4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)benzonιtrιie (50 0 g, 170 mmol) in ethanol (35 cm 3 ) and toluene (200 cm 3 ) is saturated with hydrogen chloride at 0°C and then stirred at room temperature for 2 days The reaction mixture is evaporated down under reduced pressure, shaken with ether (500 cm 3 ), filtered, washed with portions of ether and finally dried under vacuum to yield 57 6 g (89 %) of 4-(4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenylιmιdoethylether hydrochlonde (b) A saturated ethanolic ammonia solution (350 cm 3 ) is added to a solution of 4-(4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenylιmιdoethylether hydrochlonde (57 6 g, 153 mmol) and ethanol (350 cm 3 ) The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 2 days and then evaporated The solid residue is shaken with ether (500 cm 3 ), filtered, washed with portions of ether and finally dried under vacuum to yield 50 2 g (94 %) of 4-(4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)benzamιdιne hydrochlonde (c) A 5 4 molar solution of sodium methoxide in methanol (40 cm 3 ) is added dropwise to a mixture of (4-[benzyloxy]phenyl)-(2-methoxymethylιdene)ethanal (146 mmol), 4-(4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)benzamιdιne hydrochlonde (50 2 g, 146 mmol) and methanol (160 cm 3 ) at room temperature, stirred overnight and added to water and extracted with dichloromethane (3 x 100 cm 3 ) The combined organic layers are washed with water (500 cm 3 ), dilute potassium carbonate (200 cm 3 ) and once again with water (500 cm 3 ) then dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated The residue is purified by column chromatography (flash) on silica gel using a 97 3 dichloromethane/methanol mixture as eluent followed by recrystallisation from ethyl acetate to yield the desired ether (38 5 g, 70 %) (d) A one molar solution of boron tπbromide (120 cm 3 ) is added dropwise to a solution 1- [4-(5-benzyloxypyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (38 5 g, 100 mmol) in dichloromethane (200 cm 3 ) and cooled using an ice bath The reaction is stirred overnight at room temperature and then poured onto an ice/water mixture (500 g) The organic layer is separated off and the aqueous layer extracted with dichloromethane (3 x 100 cm 3 ) The combined organic layers are washed with water (500 cm 3 ) dilute potassium carbonate (200 cm 3 ) and once again with water (500 cm 3 ) then dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated The residue is purified by column chromatography (flash) on silica gel using a 97 3 dichloromethane/methanol mixture as eluent followed by recrystallisation from ethyl acetate to give the 1-[4-(5-hydroxypyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (14 7 g, 50 %) The following compounds could be obtained analogously 1-[4-(5-[(£ )-But-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(£ )-Pent-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(£ )-Hex-2-enyloxy]pyπmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1 -[4-(5-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Hex-2-enyloxy]pyrιmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]pyπmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(5-[(£ )-Oct-2-enyloxy]pyπmιdιn-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane Example 6 Preparation of 2-[4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E )-hex-2- enoate 3 A solution of N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0 22 g, 1 1 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 cm ) is added to a solution of (E )-hex-2-enoιc acid (0 10 g, 0 9 mmol), 1-[4-(5-hydroxypyrιmιdιn- 2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (0 25 g, 0 9 mmol), 4-(dιmethylamιno)pyrιdιne 3 (0 04 g) in dichloromethane (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath (0°C) under an atmosphere of nitrogen The reaction mixture is stirred overnight, filtered to remove precipitated material and the filtrate is evaporated down under reduced pressure The crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 petroleum ether (40-60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield the desired ester (0 15 g, 45 %) The following compounds could be obtained analogously 2-[4- (4-Propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) -but-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) pent-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) hex-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl)pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) hept-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) -oct-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) ■ but-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) pent-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) hept-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) oct-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl l)phenyl]pyπmιdιn-5-yl (E ) ■ but-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Heptylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octyl l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) ■ pent-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) ■ hex-2-enoate 2-[4- (4-Heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) •hept-2-enoate 2-14- (4-Heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octy l)phenyl]pyrιmιdιn-5-yl (E ) •oct-2-enoate Example 7 Preparation of 1-[4-(fra/7s- 5-[(E )-hex-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4- pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane A mixture of toluene-4-sulfonιc acid (E )-hex-2-en-1-yl ester (1 0 g, 2 8 mmol), ^-[ -{trans- 5-hydroxydιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane (0 50 g, 1 4 mmol), potassium tert-butoxide (0 55 g, 4 5 mmol) and 1 , 2-dιmethoxyethane (50 cm 3 ) is stirred at room temperature overnight, filtered to remove inorganic material, diluted with water (500 cm 3 ) and then extracted into diethyl ether (3 x 100 cm 3 ) The combined organic extracts are washed with water (2 x 500 cm 3 ), dried (MgSθ4), filtered and then evaporated down The residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 hexane/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent and recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0 25 g (66 %) of the desired ether The 1-[4-(rrans- 5-hydroxydιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane required as starting materials could be prepared as follows 3 (a) A solution of dnsobutyl aluminium hydride (20% v/v) in toluene (100 cm ) is added dropwise to a solution of 4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)benzonιtrιle (5 5 g, 45 mmol) at 0°C After completion of the addition the reaction solution is allowed to regain room temperature slowly and is stirred at this temperature overnight The reaction solution is cooled to 0°C 3 and cold 1 N sulphuric acid (500 cm ) is added carefully The organic phase is separated off 3 and the aqueous phase extracted with toluene (3 x 100 cm ) The combined organic 3 phases are washed with water (2 x 100 cm ), dried (MgSθ4) and finally evaporated down under reduced pressure The residue is purified by recrystallisation from ethyl acetate to give 2 5 g (45 %) of the pure aldehyde (b) A solution of 4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octyl)benzaldehyde (2 5 g, 8 5 mmol), glycerol (1 0 g, 8 5 mmol), pyrιdιnιum-(toluyl-4-sulphonate) (0 2 g) and toluene is heated for over 2 h so that the toluene/water mixture generated is continuously distilled off The solution is evaporated down and the residue purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 7 3 hexane/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent and recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0 75 g (25 %) of the 1-[4-(frans- 5-hydroxydιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane The following compounds could be obtained analogously 1-[4-(.raπs- 5-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(frans- 5-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propyibιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(.ra/?s- 5-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(fraπs- 5-[(£ )-Oct-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-propylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(fraπs- 5-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane l- -tfrans- 5-[(E )-Pent-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(frans- 5-[(£ )-Hept-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl l)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(.rans- 5-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(fraπs- 5-[(Z )-Hex-3-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(fraπs- 5-[(E )-Hex-4-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(fraπs- 5-[Hex-5-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-( rans- 5-[(E )-But-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2 2 2]octane 1-[4-(.raπs- 5-[(£ )-Pent-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octane 1 -[4-{trans- 5-[(E )-Hept-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -[4-(rra/7s- 5-[(E )-Oct-2-enyloxy]dιoxan-2-yl l)phenyl]-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2 2]octane Example 8 Preparation of trans- 2-[4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E)- hex-2-enoate A solution of N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodnmide (0 18 g, 0.8 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 cm ) is added to a solution of (E )-hex-2-enoιc acid (0 07 g, 0.7 mmol), '\-[4-(trans- 5- hydroxydιoxan-2-yl)phenyl]-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane (0 25 g, 0 7 mmol), 4- 3 (dιmethylamιno)pyrιdιne (0 04 g) in dichloromethane (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath (0°C) under an atmosphere of nitrogen The reaction mixture is stirred overnight, filtered to remove precipitated material and the filtrate was evaporated down under reduced pressure The crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9 1 petroleum ether (40-60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent, followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield the desired ester. The following compounds could be obtained analogously trans- 2- [4-( (<4-Propylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-but-2-enoate trans- 2- [- (4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dioxan-5-yl (E )-pent-2-enoate trans- 2- [4-((>4-Propylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-hex-2-enoate trans- 2- [4-0 (4-Propylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dioxan-5-yl (E )-hept-2-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-oct-2-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-but-2-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl)dιoxan-5-yl (E )-pent-2-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-hept-2-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-oct-2-enoate trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (Z )-hex-3-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-hex-4-enoate trans- 2- [4-((4-Pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl hex-5-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dioxan-5-yl (E )-but-2-enoate. trans- 2- [4-((4-Heptyllbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-pent-2-enoate trans- 2-[4-(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-hex-2-enoate trans- 2-[4-(4-Heptyllbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-hept-2-enoate trans- 2-[4-(4-Heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenyl]dιoxan-5-yl (E )-oct-2-enoate Example 9 Preparation of 1-(2, 3-dιfiuoro-4-[(E )-hex-2-enyloxy]phenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. Tnphenylphosphine (0.34 g, 1 3 mmol) is added in small portions to a solution of (E )-hex-2- en-1-ol (0.13 g, 1.3 mmol), 2, 3-difluoro-4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)phenol (0.40 g, 1.3 3 mmol), diethylazodicarboxylate (0.22 g, 1.3 mmol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 cm ), cooled in an ice bath under an atmosphere of nitrogen. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel using a 9:1 petroleum ether (40- 60°C)/ethyl acetate mixture as eluent, followed by recrystallisation from ethanol to yield 0.22 g (43 %) (a) A solution of 1-bromo-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane (6 g, 23 mmol) in sieve-dried 3 nitrobenzene (100 cm ) is added dropwise to a stirred solution of 2, 3-difluoro-4- methoxybenzene (6 g, 23 mmol) and anhydrous ιron(lll)chlorιde (1.2 g, 9 mmol) in sieve- 3 dried nitrobenzene (100 cm ) maintained at 80°C throughout the addition and overnight The cooled solution is added to a small volume of hydrochloric acid and stirred for 20 min The organic layer is separated off and steam-distilled to yield a solid residue. This is taken up in dichloromethane and dried (MgSO4). The raw product is crystallised from ethanol to yield the desired 2, 3-difluoro-1-methoxy-4-(4-pentylbicyclo[2.2.2]octyl)benzene (3.2 g, 44 %) (b) A one molar solution of boron tπbromide (10 cm 3 ) is added dropwise to a solution of 2, 3-dιfluoro-1-methoxy-4-(4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octyl)benzene (3.2 g, 1.0 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 cm 3 ) and cooled using an ice bath. The reaction is stirred overnight at room temperature and then poured onto an ice/water mixture (100 g). The organic layer is separated off and the aqueous layer extracted with dichloromethane (3 x 50 cm 3 ). The combined organic layers are washed with water (100 cm 3 ), dilute potassium carbonate (100 cm 3 ) and once again with water (100 cm 3 ) then dried (MgSθ4), filtered and evaporated The residue is purified by column chromatography (flash) on silica gel using a 97 3 dichloromethane/methanol mixture as eluent followed by recrystallisation from ethyl acetate to give the phenol (yield 2.2 g, 72 %) The following compounds could be obtained analogously 1-(4-[(£ )-But-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-Pent-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2joctane 1-(4-[(E )-Hept-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-dιfluorophenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane. 1 -(4-[(£ )-Oct-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-propylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-But-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(£ )-Pent-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-dιfluorophenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2 2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-Hex-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-dιfluorophenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-Hept-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-(4-[(E )-Oct-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-But-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-Pent-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-Hex-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-dιfluorophenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-Hept-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-difluorophenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane 1 -(4-[(E )-Oct-2-enoyloxy]-2, 3-dιfluorophenyl)-4-heptylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane Table 1 Transition temperatures for the 1-(4-[(E)-alk-2-enoyloxy]phenyl)-4- pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octanes Compound n C-N/°C N-|/°Q __τ /°c; 1 76 154 78 2 72 130 58 3 70 134 64 4 49 121 72 5 63 122 59 Table 2 Transition temperatures for the 1-[4-(octanoyloxy)phenyl]-4- pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octane and the 1-[4-([E]-oct-2-enoyloxy)phenyl]-4- pentylbιcyclo[2.2.2]octanes Compound R C-N/X N-I/°C ΔINI/ Table 3 Transition temperatures for the bicyclo [2 2 2]octanes Compound R C-N/°C S B -N/°C SΛ-N/°C N-I/°C (E ) 69 - (59) 83 - O YΛ 66 (54) - 79 ( ) represents a monotropic transition temperature The following birefringence data was obtained Ext Δn 30°C = = 0 128 Ext Δn 20°C : = 0 133 Ext Δn T/T N |= : 0 8 = 0 128 wherein Ext Δn is a linear extrapolation in concentration of the birefringence in ZLI3086 which is a commercially available (from Merck UK) apolar nematic host mixture T is the temperature at which the measurement was taken (in Kelvin) and T N | is the phase transition for the nematic-isotropic phase change (in Kelvin) One known device in which the materials of the current invention may be incorporated is the twisted nematic device which uses a thin layer of a nematic material between glass slides The slides are unidirectionally rubbed and assembled with the rubbing directions orthogonal The rubbing gives a surface alignment to the liquid crystal molecules resulting in a progressive 90° twist across the layer When placed between polaπsers, with their optical axis perpendicular or parallel to a rubbing direction the device rotates the plane of polarised light in its OFF state and transmits without rotation in the ON state Small amounts of cholesteric material may be added to the nematic material to ensure the 90° twist is of the same sense across the whole area of the device as explained in UK patents 1 ,472,247 and 1 ,478,592 An improvement in the performance of large, complex, nematic LCDs occurred in 1982 when it was observed that the voltage dependence of the transmission of nematic LC layers with twist angles in the range 180° to 270° could become infinitely steep, see C M Waters, V Bnmmell and E P Raynes, Proc 3rd Int Display Res Conf Kobe, Japan, 1983, 396 The larger twist angles are produced by a combination of surface alignment and making the nematic mixture into a long pitch cholesteric by the addition of a small amount of a chiral twisting agent The increasing twist angle steepens the transmission/voltage curve, until it becomes bistable for 270° twist, for a specific twist angle between 225° and 270° the curve becomes infinitely steep and well suited to multiplexing The larger twist angles present have resulted in the name supertwisted nematic (STN) for these LCDs Liquid Crystal Devices describing the use of STNs may be found in patent application GB 8218821 and resulting granted patents including US 4596446 The display of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a liquid crystal cell 1 formed by a layer 2 of cholesteric liquid crystal material contained between glass walls 3,4 A spacer ring 5 maintains the walls typically 6μm apart Strip like row electrodes 6 1 to 6 m , e g of Sn0 2 are formed on one wall 3 and similar column electrodes 1 Λ to 7 n formed on the other wall 4 With m-row electrodes and n-column electrodes this forms an mxn matrix of addressable elements Each element is formed by the interaction of a row and column electrode A row driver supplies voltage to each row electrode 6 Similarly a column drive 9 supplies voltages to each column electrode 7 Control of applied voltages is from a control logic 10 which receives power from a voltage source 11 and timing from a clock 12 An example of the use of a material and device embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 2 The liquid crystal device consists of two transparent plates, 3 and 4, for example made from glass These plates are coated on their internal face with transparent conducting electrodes 6 and 7 An alignment layer is introduced onto the internal faces of the cell so that a planar orientation of the molecules making up the liquid crystalline material will be approximately parallel to the glass plates 3 and 4 This is done by coating the glass plates 3 4 complete with conducting electrodes so that the intersections between each column and row form an x, y matnx of addressable elements or pixels. For some types of display the alignment directions are orthogonal Prior to the construction of the cell the alignment layers are rubbed with a roller covered in cloth (for example made from velvet) in a given direction, the rubbing directions being arranged parallel (same or opposite direction) upon construction of the cell A spacer 5 e g of polymethyl methacrylate separates the glass plates 3 and 4 to a suitable distance e g 2 microns Liquid crystal material 2 is introduced between glass plates 3,4 by filling the space in between them This may be done by flow filling the cell using standard techniques The spacer 5 is sealed with an adhesive in a vacuum using an existing technique Polansers 13 may be arranged in front of and behind the cell Alignment layers may be introduced onto one or more of the cell walls by one or more of the standard surface treatment techniques such as rubbing, oblique evaporation or as described above by the use of polymer aligning layers In alternative embodiments the substrates with the aligning layers on them are heated and sheared to induce alignment, alternatively the substrates with the aligning layers are thermally annealed above the glass transition temperature and below the liquid crystal to isotropic phase transition in combination with an applied field Further embodiments may involve a combination of these aligning techniques With some of these combinations an alignment layer may not be necessary The device may operate in a transmissive or reflective mode In the former, light passing through the device, e g from a tungsten bulb is selectively transmitted or blocked to form the desired display In the reflective mode a mirror or diffuse reflector, (16) is placed behind the second polaπser 13 to reflect ambient light back through the cell and two polaπsers By making the mirror partly reflecting the device may be operated both in a transmissive and reflective mode The alignment layers have two functions, one to align contacting liquid crystal molecules in a preferred direction and the other to give a tilt to these molecules - a so called surface tilt - of a few degrees typically around 4° or 5° The alignment layers may be formed by placing a few drops of the polyimide on to the cell wall and spinning the wall until a uniform thickness is obtained The polyimide is then cured by heating to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time followed by unidirectional rubbing with a roller coated with a nylon cloth In an alternative embodiment a single polaπser and dye material may be combined Cholesteric or chiral nematic liquid crystals possess a twisted helical structure which is capable of responding to a temperature change through a change in the helical pitch length Therefore as the temperature is changed then the wavelength of the light reflected from the planar cholesteric structure will change and if the reflected light covers the visible range then distinct changes in colour occur as the temperature varies This means that there are many possible applications including the areas of thermography and thermooptics The cholesteric mesophase differs from the nematic phase in that in the cholesteric phase the director is not constant in space but undergoes a helical distortion The pitch length for the helix is a measure of the distance for the director to turn through 360° By definition, a cholesteric material is chiral material Cholesteric materials may also be used in electro-optical displays as dopants, for example in twisted nematic displays where they may be used to remove reverse twist defects, they may also be used in cholesteric to nematic dyed phase change displays where they may be used to enhance contrast by preventing wave-guiding Thermochromic applications of cholesteric liquid crystal materials usually use thin film preparations of the cholesterogen which are then viewed against a black background These temperature sensing devices may be placed into a number of applications involving thermometry, medical thermography, non-destructive testing, radiation sensing and for decorative purposes Examples of these may be found in D G McDonnell in Thermotropic Liquid Crystals, Critical Reports on Applied Chemistry, Vol 22, edited by G W Gray, 1987 pp 120-44, this reference also contains a general description of thermochromic cholesteric liquid crystals Generally, commercial thermochromic applications require the formulation of mixtures which possess low melting points, short pitch lengths and smectic transitions just below the required temperature-sensing region Preferably the mixture or material should retain a low melting point and high smectic-cholesteπc transition temperatures In general, thermochromic liquid crystal devices have a thin film of cholesterogen sandwiched between a transparent supporting substrate and a black absorbing layer One of the fabrication methods involves producing an 'ink' with the liquid crystal by encapsulating it in a polymer and using printing technologies to apply it to the supporting substrate Methods of manufacturing the inks include gelatin microencapsulation, US patent 3,585,318 and polymer dispersion, US patents 1,161 ,039 and 3,872,050 One of the ways for preparing well-aligned thin-film structures of cholesteric liquid crystals involves laminating the liquid crystal between two embossed plastic sheets This technique is described in UK patent 2,143,323 For a review of thermochromism in liquid crystals see J G Grabmaier in 'Applications of Liquid Crystals', G Meier, E Sackmann and J G Grabmaier, Spπnger-Verlag, Berlin and New York, 1975, pp 83-158 The materials of the current invention may be used in many of the known devices including those mentioned in the introduction

Claims: Claims 1 A compound of Formula Formula wherein n may be 0-5, m may be 1-5, p may be 1-9, q may be 0, 1 or 2, A 1 t A 2 are independently chosen from 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted benzene, 2,5-dιsubstιtuted pynmidine, or 2,5-dιsubstιtuted pyridme, trans- 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted cyclohexane, trans- 2,5- disubstituted dioxane, the aromatic rings may be laterally substituted with F, Cl, Br or CN, Z may be O, COO, OOC, Z 2 , Z 3 are independently chosen from a direct bond, COO, OOC, C2H4, CH2O, OCH2 -c≡c — provided that when Z 1 is O and m is 1 , 3 or 5 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is E and when n is 2 or 4 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is Z and when Z is COO or OOC and m is 0, 2 or 4 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is E and when n is 1 , 3 or 5 the carbon-carbon double bond configuration is Z 2 A compound according to claim 1 wherein p is 3-7, Ai is 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted benzene, A 2 is trans- 1 ,4-dιsubstιtuted cyclohexane, Zi is O or COO, Z 2 and Z 3 are direct bonds 3 A compound according to claim 2 wherein n + m is ≤ 7 4 A liquid crystal mixture comprising at least one of the compounds according to claim 1 5 A liquid crystal mixture according to claim 4 wherein the mixture is a nematic liquid crystal mixture 6 A liquid crystal mixture according to claim 4 wherein the mixture is a cholesteric liquid crystal mixture. 7 A device comprising two spaced cell walls each bearing electrode structures and treated on at least one facing surface with an alignment layer, a layer of a liquid crystal material enclosed between the cell walls, characterised in that it incorporates the liquid crystal mixture as claimed in any of claims 4, 5, 6 8 A device according to claim 7 wherein the device is a twisted nematic device 9 A device according to claim 7 wherein the device is a super-twisted nematic device

Inventors: DUFFY WARREN LEE, GOODBY JOHN WILLIAM, KELLY STEPHEN MALCOLM, DUFFY, WARREN, LEE, GOODBY, JOHN, WILLIAM, KELLY, STEPHEN, MALCOLM
Applicants: DUFFY WARREN LEE, GOODBY JOHN WILLIAM, KELLY STEPHEN MALCOLM, SECR DEFENCE, DUFFY, WARREN, LEE, GOODBY, JOHN, WILLIAM, KELLY, STEPHEN, MALCOLM, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C07C43
IPC codes: C07C43, C07C69, C07D213, C07D239, C07D319, C09K19