The Liquid Crystal Properties of 4-n-Alkyl- and 4-n-Alkoxy-phenyl 4-n-Alkylbicyclo (2.2.2) octane-1-carboxylates

Abstract

Two new series of esters incorporating the 1, 4-disubstituted bicyclo(2.2.2)octane ring system are reported. Thirty-three 4-n-alkylphenyl 4-n-alkylbicyclo(2.2.2)octane-1-carboxylates and thirty 4-n-alkoxyphenyl 4-n-alkylbicyclo(2.2.2)octane-1-carboxylates have been prepared and found to exhibit wide-range nematic phases persisting until higher temperatures than those of the corresponding esters containing either the trans-1, 4-disubstituted cyclohexane ring or the 1, 4-disubstituted benzene ring in place of the bicyclo-octane ring. Mixtures of these novel bicyclo-octane esters with cyanobiphenyls have been found to be superior for multiplexing applications in twisted nematic cells to equivalent mixtures employing 4-n-alkylphenyl 4-n-alkoxybenzoates or 4-n-al-koxyphenyl trans-4-n-alkylcyclohexane-1-carboxylates.