| abstract |
The inventive chroman compounds of the formula (I) R<SUP>1</SUP>(A<SUP>1</SUP>-Z<SUP>1</SUP>)<SUB>a</SUB> - W <SUP>1</SUP>-(Z<SUP>2</SUP>-A<SUP>2</SUP>)<SUB>b</SUB>-Z<SUP>3</SUP>-W<SUP>2</SUP>-(Z<SUP>4</SUP>-A<SUP>3</SUP>)<SUB>c</SUB>-R<SUP>2</SUP> in which W<SUP>1</SUP>,<SUP/>W<SUP>2 </SUP>are each independently a divalent group of the formula (I), ring B is an unsaturated or partly saturated six-membered ring in which one or two of the CH<SUB>2</SUB> groups are replaced by O, where no two oxygen atoms are adjacent, and in which -CH<SUB>2</SUB> may be replaced by -CHF- or -CF<SUB>2</SUB>- or =CH- may be replaced by =CF-, R<SUP>1</SUP>, A<SUP>1</SUP>, A<SUP>2</SUP>, A<SUP>3</SUP>, Z<SUP>1</SUP>, Z<SUP>2</SUP>, Z<SUP>3</SUP>, Z<SUP>4</SUP>, a, b and c are each as defined in claim 1, have two structural moieties W<SUP>1</SUP> and W<SUP>2</SUP> derived from chroman. The compounds are suitable as components for anisotropic switching media, as used, for example, in liquid-crystal display devices. |