| abstract |
The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula Ic, n n n n n n n n n n in which R 2 -R 6 can each independently be selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl); L 1 and L 4 are each independently a divalent linking group, such as a bond or —OC(O)—R 8 —C(O)O—, where R 8 can be divalent hydrocarbyl (e.g., —CH 2 CH 2 —); each L 2 and each L 5 each independently represent a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C 1 -C 25 alkyl; each L 3 and each L 6 each independently represent a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t and s are each independently from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; q and r are each independently from 0 to 4 for each s, provided that the sum of q and r is at least 1 for each s; and E 1 and E 2 can each independently be hydrogen or hydrocarbyl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula Ic. |