Liquid-crystalline medium

The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline (LC) media having positive dielectric anisotropy and to liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) containing these media, especially to displays addressed by an active matrix and in particular to energy efficient LC displays of the TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB- FFS, XB-FFS, PS-FFS, SA-HB-FFS, SA-XB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-HB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-XB-FFS, positive VA or positive PS-VA type. The media have an improved long-term stability against UV radiation and elevated temperatures.

Liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) are used in many areas for the display of information. LCDs are used both for direct-view displays and for projection-type displays. The electro-optical modes used are, for example, the twisted nematic (TN), super twisted nematic (STN), optically compensated bend (OCB) and electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) modes together with their various modifications, as well as others. All these modes utilise an electric field which generated substantially perpendicular to the substrates and the liquid-crystal layer.

Besides these modes, there are also electro-optical modes that utilise an electric field which is substantially parallel to the substrates or the liquid-crystal layer. For example, WO 91/10936 discloses a liquid-crystal display in which the electric signals are generated in such a way that the electric fields have a significant component parallel to the liquid-crystal layer, and which has since then become known as in-plane switching IPS) display. The principles of operating such a display are described, for example, by R.A. Soref in Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 45, No. 12, pp. 5466-5468 (1974).

IPS displays contain an LC layer between two substrates with planar orientation, where the two electrodes are arranged on only one of the two substrates and preferably have interdigitated, comb-shaped structures. On application of a voltage to the electrodes an electric field with a significant component parallel to the LC layer is generated between them. This causes realignment of the LC molecules in the layer plane. EP 0 588 568, for example, discloses various possibilities for the design of the electrodes and for addressing an IPS display. DE 198 24 137 likewise describes various embodiments of such IPS displays.

Liquid-crystalline materials for IPS displays of this type are described, for example, in DE 19528 104.

Furthermore, so-called “fringe-field switching" (FFS) displays have been reported (see inter alia S.H. Jung et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Volume 43, No. 3, 2004, 1028), which contain two electrodes on the same substrate, one of which is structured in a comb-shaped manner and the other is unstructured. A strong, so-called "fringe field" is thereby generated, i.e. a strong electric field close to the edge of the electrodes, and, throughout the cell, an electric field which has both a strong vertical component and also a strong horizontal component. FFS displays have a low viewing-angle dependence of the contrast. FFS displays usually contain an LC medium with positive dielectric anisotropy, and an alignment layer, usually of polyimide, which provides planar alignment to the molecules of the LC medium.

Liquid-crystal displays of the IPS and FFS electro-optical mode are in particular suitable for use in modern desktop monitors, TV sets and multimedia applications. The liquid-crystalline media according to the present invention are preferably used in displays of this type. In general, dielectrically positive liquid-crystalline media having rather lower values of the dielectric anisotropy are used in FFS displays, but in some cases liquid-crystalline media having a dielectric anisotropy of only about 3 or even less are also used in IPS displays.

A further improvement has been achieved by the HB-FFS mode. One of the unique features of the HB-FFS mode in contrast to the traditional FFS technology is that it enables higher transmittance which allows operation of the panel with less energy consumption.

Another recently developed mode is the XB-FFS mode, wherein the liquidcrystalline medium additionally contains a polar liquid crystal compound with low dielectric anisotropy. Liquid-crystal compositions which are suitable for LCDs and especially for FFS and IPS displays are known in prior art, for example, from JP 07-181 439 (A), EP 0 667 555, EP 0 673 986, DE 195 09 410, DE 195 28 106, DE 195 28 107. However, these compositions have certain disadvantages. Amongst other deficiencies, most of them result in disadvantageously long addressing times, have inadequate values of the resistivity and/or require excessively high operating voltages. Both an improvement in the operating properties and also in the shelf life are necessary here.

FFS and IPS displays can be operated as active-matrix displays (AMD) or passivematrix displays (PMD). In the case of active-matrix displays individual pixels are usually addressed by integrated, non-linear active elements such as, for example, thin-film transistors (TFTs), while in the case of passive-matrix displays individual pixels are usually addressed by the multiplex method as known from the prior art.

The displays according to the present invention are preferably by an active matrix, preferably by a matrix of TFT. However, the liquid crystals according to the invention can also advantageously be used in displays having other known addressing means.

Typical applications of in-plane switching (IPS) and fringe field switching (FFS) technologies are monitors, notebooks, televisions, mobile telephones, tablet PCs, etc.

Both the IPS and the FFS technology have certain advantages over other LCD technologies, such as, for example, the vertical alignment (VA) technology, e.g. a broad viewing angle dependency of the contrast.

The provision of further liquid-crystalline media and the use thereof in a display having high transmission, a good black state and a high contrast ratio is a central challenge for modern FFS and IPS applications. In addition, modern applications also require good low-temperature stability and fast addressing times.

Matrix liquid crystal display (MFK) displays with full array LED backlighting, which have become increasingly common in recent years, include a large number of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) arranged directly behind the layer with the FK medium. Modern high-performance InGaN LEDs sometimes reach operating temperatures of more than 70 °C and, depending on the design, can emit UV radiation as well as visible light. Direct contact between the LEDs and the FRP medium therefore places special demands on the UV stability and temperature resistance of the FRP medium. State-of-the-art MFK displays therefore do not meet today's requirements.

Recently, MFK displays have been increasingly used in outdoor applications such as PI Ds (Public Information Displays) for displaying various types of information at train stations, roads, airports, hotels and shopping malls. Compared to conventional MFK displays, such as those used in TV applications, PI Ds should have much higher long-term resistance to solar UV radiation and elevated temperatures, as well as a wider operating temperature range.

The present invention has the object of providing liquid-crystalline media, in particular for FFS and IPS displays, but also for TN, positive VA or STN displays, and in particular for active-matrix displays like those addressed by TFTs, which do not exhibit the disadvantages indicated above or only do so to a lesser extent and preferably have high specific resistance, low threshold voltage, high dielectric anisotropy, a good low temperature stability (LTS), fast response times and low rotational viscosities, an excellent long term stability against UV radiation and increased operating temperatures and enable high brightness.

This was achieved by providing liquid-crystalline media as described and claimed hereinafter.

In case of FFS displays there is a need for further optimization of response time, contrast, brightness and reliability. However, it was found that the liquid-crystalline materials of the prior art do often not achieve all these requirements at the same time.

It has now been surprisingly found that liquid-crystalline media according to the present invention which contain one or more compounds of Formula I and, optionally, at least one compound of Formula H show several improvements, especially when being used in FFS mode displays, like a good solubility and a low ratio of / k-| 1, and enable fast response times. The liquid-crystal media according to the present invention are especially suitable for use in liquid-crystal displays of the FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS and IPS mode based on dielectrically positive liquid crystals, and polymer stabilised variants thereof.

The prior art, for example WO 2010/099853 A1 and DE 102010 027 099 A1, discloses thiophene-containing LC media. WO 2010/099853 A1 teaches compounds containing a thiophene-2, 5-diyl unit which is linked directly to a 2- and/or 6-substituted 1,4-phenylene unit. WO 2010/099853 A1 describes the development of novel materials for use in LC displays. This object was achieved by the provision of compounds of the general formula where inter alia A? denotes a 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene unit, A^ and A^, besides other meanings, denote a 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene unit, denote a bridging element or a single bond.

Specific examples described are, for example, the following compounds (see

For many practical applications in liquid-crystal displays, the known liquidcrystalline media comprising thiophene compounds are not sufficiently stable. In particular, exposure to UV radiation, but also even irradiation with the usual backlighting, results in an impairment, in particular of the electrical properties. Thus, for example, the conductivity increases significantly. DE 10 2010 027 099 A1 describes LC media which comprise the compounds disclosed in WO 2010/099853 A1 and bithienyl derivatives of the formula as stabiliser. These bithienyl derivatives are preferably employed in combination with thiophene 1 ,1 -dioxide derivatives of the formula

In both the above formulae, and A2 may denote 1 ,4-phenylene or 1 ,4- cyclohexylene and Z^ and z2 denote a single bond. Specific examples described are the following compounds (see DE 10 2010 027 099 A1):

The subject matter of the present invention is a liquid-crystalline medium, characterised in that it comprises one or more compounds of Formula I: in which the individual substituents have the following meanings:

R1 a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 C atoms or an alkylcycloalkyl group having 4 to 13 C atoms in which one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally substituted by -C=C-, -CF2O-, -OCF2-, -CH=CH-

-CO-O- or -O-CO- in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom;

R ² a H atom, an alkyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 C atoms or an alkenyl or an alkenyloxy group having 2 or 12 C atoms in which one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally substituted by -C=C-, atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom or a cycloalkyl or a cycloalkoxy group having 3 to 12 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom, a denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3; and Y ² each, independently of one another, denote a H atom or a methyl, l_1 to l_4 each, independently of one another, denote a H atom or a F atom. In addition to one or more compounds of Formula I as defined above the medium may optionally comprise one or more compounds of the Formula H in which

R11 each, independently of one another, denotes a H atom, F, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 C atoms, in which one -CH2- group or, if present, a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by -O- or - C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-, and one or, if present, a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by-CH=CH- or -0=0-, and in which one H atom or a plurality of H atoms may be replaced

R12 each, independently of one another, denotes a H atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 0 atoms, in which one -CH2- group or a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by -O- or -C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-, a hydrocarbon radical which contains a cycloalkyl or alkylcycloalkyl unit and in which one -CH2- group or a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by -O- or -C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-, and in which one H atom or a plurality of H atoms may be replaced aromatic or heteroaromatic hydrocarbon radical, in which one H atom or a plurality of H atoms may be replaced by OR^, N(R ¹³ )(R ¹⁴ ) or R ¹⁵ ,

R13 and R^ ⁴ each, independently of one another, denotes an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon or carboxylic acid radical having 6 to 12 C atoms, R15 each, independently of one another, denotes an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which one -CH2- group or a plurality of -Cogroups may be replaced by -O- or -C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-,

R16 each, independently of one another a H atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms, O-cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 C atoms, O’ or OH, each, independently of one another, denote an alkylene group having 1 to 20 C atoms, in which one -CH2- group or, if present, a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by -O- or -C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-, and in which one H atom or a plurality of H atoms may be replaced by F, OR^, N(R ¹³ )(R ¹⁴ ) or R15, or denote a single bond, each, independently of one another, denote methyl or ethyl,

X11 denotes C,

7^ 1 to z14 each, independently of one another, denote -O-, -(C=O)-, -O-(C=O)-, -(C=O)-O-, -O-(C=O)-O-, -(N-R ¹³ )-, -N-R ¹³ -(C=O)- or a single bond 1 is a single bond, both Z^ 1 and Z^2 do not simultaneously denote -O-; if js a single bond, both Z^ ³ and Z^ ⁴ do not simultaneously denote -O-; and, if q denotes 0, both Z^2 and Z^ ³ do not simultaneously denote -O-, p denotes 1 or 2, q denotes 0 or 1 , o denotes (3-p), n denotes an integer from 1 to 8, m denotes an integer from 0 to 8, wherein n * p denotes an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 3 to 8, and denotes an organic moiety having (m+n) bonding sites.

The invention further relates to the use of a liquid-crystalline medium as described above and below for electro-optical purposes, in particular for the use in liquidcrystal displays, shutter glasses, LC windows, 3D applications, preferably in TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS, PS-HB-FFS, PS-XB-FFS, SA-HB-FFS, SA-XB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-HB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-XB-FFS, positive VA and positive PS-VA displays, very preferably in FFS, HB-FFS, IPS, PS-HB-FFS and PS-IPS displays.

The invention further relates to an electro-optical liquid-crystal display containing a liquid-crystalline medium as described above and below, in particular a TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS, PS-HB-FFS, PS-XB- FFS, SA-HB-FFS, SA-XB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-HB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-XB-FFS, positive VA or positive PS-VA display, preferably a FFS, HB-FFS, IPS, PS-HB-FFS or PS-IPS display.

In the present application, all atoms also include their isotopes. In some embodiments of the present invention one or more hydrogen atoms (H) may be replaced by deuterium (D); a high degree of deuteration enables or simplifies analytical determination of compounds, in particular in the case of low concentrations.

In the formulae above and below, if RO, R1 , R^, R12 and R2 preferably denote an alkyl radical and/or an alkoxy radical, this may be straight-chain or branched. It is preferably straight-chain, has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 C atoms and accordingly preferably denotes ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexyloxy or heptyloxy, furthermore methyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, methoxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, undecyloxy, dodecyloxy, tridecyloxy or tetradecyloxy. RO preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 2 to 6 C atoms. Oxaalkyl preferably denotes straight-chain 2-oxapropyl (= methoxymethyl),

2- (= ethoxymethyl) or 3-oxabutyl (= 2-methoxyethyl), 2-, 3- or 4-oxapentyl, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-oxahexyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-oxaheptyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-oxaoctyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-oxanonyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-oxadecyl.

If RO, R1, R11 , R12 or R2 denotes an alkoxy or oxaalkyl group it may also contain one or more additional oxygen atoms, provided that oxygen atoms are not linked directly to one another. very preferably one or more of RO, R1 and R2 are selected from the group

If RO, R1, R11 , R12 or R2 denotes an alkyl radical in which one CH2 group has been replaced by -CH=CH-, this may be straight-chain or branched. It is preferably straight-chain and has 2 to 10 C atoms. Accordingly, it denotes, in particular, vinyl, prop-1- or -2-enyl, but-1-, -2- or -3-enyl, pent-1-, -2-, -3- or -4-enyl, hex-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-enyl, hept-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5- or -6-enyl, oct-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6- or -7- enyl, non-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7- or -8-enyl, dec-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8- or -9-enyl.

If RO, R1 , R11 , R12 or R2 denotes an alkyl or alkenyl radical which is at least monosubstituted by halogen, this radical is preferably straight-chain, and halogen is preferably F or Cl. In the case of polysubstitution, halogen is preferably F. The resultant radicals also include perfluorinated radicals. In the case of monosubstitution, the fluorine or chlorine substituent may be in any desired position, but is preferably in the ra-position.

In the formulae above and below, is preferably F, Cl or a mono- or polyfluorinated alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1 , 2 or 3 C atoms or a mono- or polyfluorinated alkenyl radical having 2 or 3 C atoms. is particularly preferably F, Cl, CF3, CHF ₂ , OCF3, OCHF ₂ , OCFHCF3, OCFHCHF ₂ , OCFHCHF ₂ , OCF ₂ CH ₃ , OCF ₂ CHF ₂ , OCF ₂ CHF ₂ , OCF ₂ CF ₂ CHF ₂ , OCF ₂ CF ₂ CHF ₂ , OCFHCF ₂ CF ₃ , OCFHCF ₂ CHF ₂ , OCF ₂ CF ₂ CF ₃ , OCF ₂ CF ₂ CCIF ₂ , OCCIFCF ₂ CF ₃ , OCH=CF ₂ or CH=CF ₂ , very particularly preferably F or OCF3, furthermore CF3, OCF=CF ₂ , OCHF ₂ or OCH=CF ₂ .

In the LC media according to the present invention the use of compounds of Formula I together with compounds of Formulae Z1 to Z3 or their sub-formulae enables to achieve an increased value of s± and at the same time a decrease of the rotational viscosity and the ratios of yi / k ₂₂ ^anc * Y1 / kl 1 > and thus fast response times.

Compounds of Formula I

LC media comprising the compounds of Formula I in which it is a 1 ,4-phenylen, in which one or several H atoms may be substituted by an F atom, are preferred. It showed to be particularly advantageous to select from the following groups:

Particularly advantageous properties are exhibited by compounds of Formula I in which a = is 1,4-phenylene. Such compounds lead to LC media having a particularly low rotational viscosity yi , a broad nematic phase, high birefringence An and excellent thermal and UV stability.

According to the present invention Fd in Formula I is a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 C atoms, preferably having 3 to 8 C atoms, particularly preferred having 3 to 6 C atoms, or an alkylcycloalkyl group having 4 to 13 C atoms, preferably having 4 to 8 C atoms, particularly preferred having 4 to 6 C atoms, in which one or more non- adjacent CH2 groups are optionally substituted by -C=C-, -CF2O-, -OCF2-,

-CO-O- or -O-CO- in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom.

R2 in Formula I can be a H atom, an alkyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 C atoms or an alkenyl or an alkenyloxy group having 2 or 12 C atoms in which one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally substituted by -C=C-, -CF2O-,

-O-, -CO-O- or -O-CO- in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom or a cycloalkyl or a cycloalkoxy group having 3 to 12 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom. Particularly preferred are alkyl groups having 1 to 8, more preferably 1 to 5 C atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or several halogen atoms, in particular F atoms. In a particularly preferred embodiment R^ may denote a H atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 C atoms, in particular an unbranched alkyl group having 1 to 5 C atoms. Typically, the substituents R1 and R2 have less than 10 C atoms in total.

Particularly preferred compounds of general Formula I include inter alia those selected from the sub-formulae 1-1-1 bis I-4-3 listed below:

 in which und are as defined in the general Formula I. In a particularly preferred embodiment R2 denotes an alkenyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 C atoms or an alkenyl or an alkinyl group having 2 to 12 C atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 C atoms, in all of which one or several H atoms may be substituted by a F atom. Particularly preferred are compounds in which R^ is represented by an alkyl group having 1 to 5 C atoms in which one or several H atoms may be substituted by a F atom, an alkenyl or an alkinyl group having 2 to 5 C atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 5 C atoms.

Use of the following compounds showed to be particularly advantageous: in which has the meaning indicated in the general Formula I, preferably an alkenyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a F atom, an alkenyl or an alkinyl group having 2 to 12 C atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 C atoms. Particularly preferred are alkyl groups having 1 to 5 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a F atom as well as cycloalkyl group having 3 to 5 C atoms.

Use of the following specific compounds also showed to be advantageous:

In addition to the compound of Formula I the LC medium of the present invention may comprise one or several compounds of Formula S: in which the individual substituents have the following meanings:

R1 and R ² each, independently of one another, a H atom, an alkyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 C atoms or an alkenyl or an alkenyloxy group having 2 or 12 C atoms in which one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally substituted by -C=C-, -CF2O-, -OCF2-, -CH=CH-

, -CO-O- or -O-CO- in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom or a cycloalkyl or a cycloalkoxy group having 3 to 12 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom,

A ⁰ , A ¹ , A ² each, independently of one another, denote phenylene-1,4-diyl, in which, in addition, one or two CH groups may be replaced by N and one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen, CN, CH3, CHF2, CH2F, CF3, OCH3, OCHF2 or OCFs, cyclohexane-1 ,4-diyl, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced, independently of one another, by O and/or S and one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, cyclohexene-1 ,4-diyl, bicyclo- [1.1.1 ]pentane-1 ,3-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1 ,4-diyl, spiro[3.3]- heptane-2,6-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl or 1 ,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl,

Z^ each, independently of one another, denote -CF2O-, -OCF2-, -CH ₂ O-, -OCH ₂ -, -CO-O-, -O-CO-, -C ₂ H ₄ -, -C ₂ F ₄ -, -CF ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CF ₂ -, -CFHCFH-, -CFHCH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CFH-, -CF ₂ CFH-, -CFHCF ₂ -, -CH=CH-, -CF=CH-, -CH=CF-, -CF=CF-, -C=C- or a single bond, k and I each, independently of one another, denote 0, 1 , 2 or 3.

Preference is given to LC media comprising the compounds of Formula S in which AO denotes phenylene-1 ,4-diyl, in which, in addition, one or two CH groups may be replaced by N and one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen, CN, CH3, CHF2, CH2F, OCH3, OCHF2, CF3 or OCF3. Particularly preferred are compounds and very particularly preferably in which

The preferred compounds of the Formula S result in media having a particularly high clearing point, low rotational viscosity, a broad nematic phase, high birefringence and an excellent thermal and UV stability.

Preference is furthermore given to compounds of the Formula S in which m and n denote 0, 1 or 2, particularly preferably 0 or 1. Particular preference is given to compounds of the Formula S in which n denotes 0, i.e. the thiophene ring is a terminal ring. Preference is furthermore given to compounds of the Formula S in which m denotes 0, 1 or 2, preferably 1 or 2 and very particularly preferably 1.

A1 and A2 in Formula S particularly preferably denote phenylene-1,4-diyl, which may also be mono- or polysubstituted by F, furthermore cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, cyclohexenylene-1 ,4-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl or 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl.

7^ and 7?- in Formula S particularly preferably denote -CF2O-, -OCF2- or a single bond, wherein a single bond is particularly preferred.

A1 and A2 in Formula S particularly preferably denote preferably unsubstituted 1,4-phenylene, in which L denotes halogen, CF3 or CN, preferably F.

Preference is furthermore given to compounds of the Formula S in which Fd and R2 each, independently of one another, denote H, F, Cl, Br, -CN, -SCN, -NCS, SF5, halogen, or alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl having 1 to 8, preferably 1 to 5, C atoms, each of which is optionally substituted by halogen, in particular by F.

Particularly preferred radicals R1 and R2 in Formula S denote H, halogen, or alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy having 1 to 12, preferably 1 to 8, C atoms, each of which is optionally substituted by halogen, in particular by F, particularly preferred are H, F, alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl having 1 to 8 C atoms. Preferably, at least one radical is not H, particularly preferably both radicals R1 and R2 are not H. R1 is very particularly preferably equal to alkyl. R2 is furthermore preferably H, alkyl or fluorine. Very particularly preferably, R1 is alkyl and R2 is H or alkyl. R1, R2 each, independently of one another, very particularly preferably denote unbranched alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms. If R1 and R2 denote substituted alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl or alkynyl, the total number of C atoms in the two groups R1 and R2 is preferably less than 10.

Preferred alkyl groups are, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl and n-octyl.

Preferred alkenyl groups are, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl and pentenyl.

Preferred alkynyl groups are, for example, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, heptynyl and octynyl.

Preferred alkoxy groups are, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, n-butoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, n-heptoxy, n-octoxy.

Halogen preferably denotes F or Cl.

Particularly preferred compounds of the Formula S are those selected from the following sub-formulae: in which R1 and R2 have the meanings indicated in Formula I, and U to L® independently denote H or F. R1 and R2 therein preferably denote optionally fluorinated alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 12 C atoms, optionally fluorinated alkenyl or alkynyl having 2 to 12 C atoms, optionally fluorinated cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 C atoms. Particularly preferred are optionally fluorinated alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl having 1 to 5 C atoms. I_2 in the Formulae S-1-1 to S-1-6 preferably denotes F. In the Formulae S-1-4 to S-1-6, l_3 and l_4 preferably denote H. In the Formulae S-1-4 to S-1-6 l_3 and l_4 preferably denote F.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the compounds of Formula S are selected from the following structure: where R1 has the same meaning as in the general Formula S and

R2 denotes a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkoxy group having

1 to 7 C atoms, or an akenyl, alkenyloxy, alkoxyalkyl group having

1 to 7 C atoms, or a cycloalkyl or a cycloalkoxy group having 3 to 12 C atoms, in which one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups are optionally h a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom, in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom.

LC media according to the invention having a particularly high long-term stability against UV radiation and elevated temperatures and a low rotational viscosity are obtainable with the following compounds of the general Formula S:

wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above.

Additionally, LC media comprising the following compounds of Formula S are particularly preferred:

Mostly preferred compounds of Formula S include, in particular, one or more of the following:

As a further possibility, the following compounds of Formula S can be used:

The compounds of the Formula I and S can be prepared analogously to processes known to the person skilled in the art and described in standard works of organic chemistry, such as, for example, in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie [Methods of Organic Chemistry], Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart.

Compounds of Formula H

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, one or more compounds of Formula H are also present in the LC medium. In the compounds of the Formula H, (benzene-1 ,2,4, 5-tetrayl)

wherein

_ _Z 12_ _S 11- _Z 11 - on each occurrence, independently of one another, denotes -O-, S11-O-, -O-S ^{1 1} -O-, -(C=O)-O-S ^{1 1} -O-, -O-(C=O)-S ^{1 1} -O-, -O-(C=O)-S ^{1 1} -( C=O)-O-, -O-S ^{1 1} -(C=O)-O-, -(C=O)-O-S ^{1 1} -C, -(C=O)-O-S ^{1 1} -O-(C=O)- or -(N-R ¹³ )-S ^{1 1} -O-, -(N-R ¹³ -C(=O)-S ^{1 1} -(C=0)-0 or a single bond, preferably -O-, -S ^{1 1} -O-, -O-S ^{1 1} -O-, -(C=O)-O-S ^{1 1} -O-, -O-(C=O)-S ^{1 1} -O-

1 preferably denotes an alkylene group having 1 to 20 C atoms, and/or

R11 if present, denotes alkyl, alkoxy or H, preferably H or alkyl, and/or

R12 denotes H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or 3-heptyl, or cyclohexyl. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, in the compounds of the

Formula H, denotes a group selected from the group of the formulae

In a further preferred embodiment of the present application, in the compounds of the Formula H, denotes a group selected from the group of the formulae or

In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the compounds of the Formula H in which p preferably denotes 1 , denotes — z— s ¹ — z- — , preferably -O-SH-O-, -SH-0- or -O-SH-, particularly preferably -O-S11-0- or -S11-0- .

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the compounds of the Formula H, the group denotes a group selected from the group of the formulae

or

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in which p is 2, which may be identical to or different from those described above, in the compounds of the Formula H, denotes a group selected from the group of the formulae

In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, which may be identical to or different from those described above, in the compounds of the Formula H, the group on each occurrence, independently of one another, denotes

Compounds of the following general Formulae H-1-1 , H-1-2 and H-1-3, showed to be particularly efficient UV stabilisers in liquid-crystal mixtures, in particular, in terms of VHR stability: wherein ZG, and n are as defined above and n denotes an integer from 1 to 8. These compounds are highly suitable as stabilisers in liquid-crystal mixtures and stabilise the VHR of the mixtures upon a UV exposure.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the one or more compounds of the Formula H may be selected from the group consisting of the compounds the following Formulae H-2-1 to H-2-6:

in which

R11 each, independently of one another, denotes an H atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 C atoms, in which one -CH2- group or, if present, a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by -O- or -C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-, and one or, if present, a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by-CH=CH- or -C=C-, and in which one H atom or a plurality of H atoms may be replaced by F, OR"! ³ , N(R1 ³ )(R14) or R^ ³ ,

R1® denotes a H atom or 0‘, n denotes an integer from 0 to 12, and each, independently of one another, denote an alkylene group having 1 to 20 C atoms, in which one -CH2- group or, if present, a plurality of -CH2- groups may be replaced by -O- or -C(=O)-, but two adjacent -CH2- groups cannot be replaced by -O-, and in which one H atom or a plurality of H atoms may be replaced by F, OR^ ³ , N(R ¹³ )(R ¹⁴ ) or R15, or denote a single bond.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the media according to the invention comprise in each case one or more compounds of the Formula H selected from the following group of the compounds of the formulae

30

and

The preferred content of the one or more compounds of Formula H in the LC medium depends inter alia on the inherent chemical stability of the LC medium as well as on the nature of the compound of Formula H. Compounds of Formula H in which R16 denotes O, which are known as NO radical type HALS are preferably used in proportion ranging from 50 ppm to 1000 ppm, based on the weight of the LC medium. Compounds of Formula H in which R16 denotes an H atom, which are known as NH radical type HALS are advantageously used in proportion ranging from 50 ppm to 2000 ppm, based on the weight of the LC medium.

Further mesogenic components

Preferably the medium contains, in addition to the compound of Formula I , one or more compounds selected from the following formulae: wherein

"alkyl" and "alkyl*" are, independently from one another, Ci-g-alkyl, and preferably denotes ethyl, propyl, butyl or pentyl, very preferably ethyl, propyl or butyl "alkenyl" and "alkenyl*" preferably denote C2-6' ^a lkenyl. Very preferred are compounds of Formula Z1 and Z2.

Preferred compounds of Formula Z1 to Z6 are those selected from the following subformulae

In another preferred embodiment the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Z1 or its preferred subformulae and/or one or more compounds selected from Formulae Z2, Z3, Z4 and Z5 or their preferred subformulae.

Preferably the total proportion of compounds of Formula Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5 and Z6 or their subformulae, such as CC-3-V in the medium is from 10 to 65%, very preferably from 20 to 60%, most preferably from 25 to 55% by weight. In yet a more preferred embodiment, the compound of Formula Z1-1 is used in concentrations ranging from 10 wt.-% to 60 wt.-%, more preferably 10 wt.-% to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the LC medium.

Preferably the medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds selected from the Formulae Z1 , Z2, Z3 and Z4 or their subformulae.

The medium may additionally comprise one or more compounds of the following general formulae: in which

R" denotes C^.g-alkyl, C^.g-alkoxy or C2-6-alkenyl, and

"alkenyl" denotes C2-6-alkenyl,

The compounds of the Formulae XII are preferably selected from the following subformulae: wherein “alkyl” is methyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl.

Particular preference is given to the compounds of the Formulae Xlla. In the Formula IXb, "alkyl" preferably, independently of one another, denotes n-CgHy, n-C4Hg or n- C5H11 , in particular n-CgHy.

Preferred compounds of subformula Xlla are selected from the following group:

Xllal

The medium may additionally comprise one or more compounds selected from the following formulae: in which U and l_2 have the meanings indicated in Formula I, and R1 and R2 each, independently of one another, denote n-alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl, fluoroalkyl or alkenyl, each having up to 6 C atoms, and preferably each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms; in the compound of the Formula XIV, at least one of the radicals R1 and R2 preferably denotes alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms.

The medium may further comprise one or more compounds of the Formula XIV in which at least one of the radicals R1 and R2 denotes alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, preferably those selected from the following subformulae: in which "alkyl" has the meaning indicated above, and preferably denotes methyl, ethyl or propyl;

The compounds of the Formulae XIV are preferably selected from the following subformulae:

Very preferred are compounds of Formula XIVd1.

In yet a further embodiment the medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XVI, in which R^ and R^ have the meanings indicated in Formula I and preferably each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. L denotes H or F.

Particularly preferred compounds of the Formula XVI are those of the subformulae

XVI a in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, in particular ethyl, propyl or pentyl, and alkenyl and alkenyl each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms, in particular CH ₂ =CHC ₂ H ₄ , CH ₃ CH=CHC ₂ H ₄ , CH ₂ =CH and CH ₃ CH=CH.

Particular preference is given to the compounds of the Formulae XVIb and XVIc.

Very particular preference is given to the compounds of the following subformulae

Very preferred are compounds of Formula XVIc2.

The medium comprises one or more compounds of the following formulae: XVI I c in which

R1 and R^ have the meanings indicated in Formulae I, respectively, and preferably each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. L denotes H or F.

Very preferred are compounds of Formula XVIIa wherein L is H. Very preferred are compounds of Formula XVIIb wherein L is F.

In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the LC medium contains, in addition to the compound of Formula I, one or more compounds selected from the Formulae Y and B in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meanings:

R ¹ , R ² one of the meanings given for R1 and R ² in Formula I,

RS one of the meanings given for R1 ,

Z ^x , zy -CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH=CH-, -CF ₂ O-, -OCF ₂ -, -CH ₂ O-, -OCH ₂ -, -CO-O-, -O- CO-, -C ₂ F4-, -CF=CF-, -CH=CH-CH ₂ O-, or a single bond, preferably a single bond,

Z ^z CH ₂ O or a single bond,

Y ¹ O or S,

U'4 H, F or Cl, preferably H or F, very preferably F, x, y 0, 1 or 2, with x+y <3, z 0 or 1, wherein in Formula B the dibenzofuran or dibenzothiophene group may also be further substituted by a methyl or methoxy group, and wherein the compounds of Formula Y contain at least one substituent U'4 that is F or Cl, preferably F. Preferably the LC medium according to this first preferred embodiment contains one or more compounds of Formula I and H, one or more compounds selected from Formulae Z1, Z2 and Z3, and one or more compounds selected from Formulae Y and B.

The LC media according to this first preferred embodiment are especially suitable for use in LC displays of the HB-FFS or PS-HB-FFS mode.

In a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the LC medium does not contain a compound of the Formulae Y or B.

In the compounds of Formula Y and its subformulae, R1 and R2 preferably denote straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms, furthermore alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in particular vinyl, 1 E-propenyl, 1 E-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1E-pentenyl, 3E-pentenyl or 4-pentenyl.

In the compounds of Formula Y and its subformulae, preferably both radicals L^ and L2 denote F. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the compounds of Formula Y and its subformulae one of the radicals L^ and L? denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Y selected from the following subformulae wherein U , l_2, R1 , R2, Z ^X , ZY, X and y have the meanings given in Formula Y or one of the preferred meanings given above in Formula I, a denotes 1 or 2, b denotes 0 or 1, l_3, 1.4 denote F or Cl, preferably F, and l_5 denotes a H atom or CH3.

Preferably, in the compounds of Formula Y1 and Y2 both U and l_2 denote F or one of U and l_2 denotes F and the other denotes Cl, or both l_3 and l_4 denote F or one of l_3 and l_4 denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

Preferably the medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula Y1 selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae in which a denotes 1 or 2,

“alky!" and “alkyl*" each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms,

“alkenyF denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms, and

L ⁵ denotes a H atom or CH3. “alkenyr preferably denotes CH ₂ =CH-, CH ₂ =CHCH ₂ CH ₂ -, CH ₃ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -CH ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -CH=CH- or CH ₃ -CH=CH- (CH ₂ ) ₂ -.

Very preferably the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Y1 selected from Formulae Y1-1 , Y1-2, Y1-7, Y1-12, Y1-17, Y1-22, Y1-40, Y1-41, Y1- 42, Y1-44, Y1-50 and Y1-68. L$ preferably denotes a H atom.

Further preferably the medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula Y2 selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which

“alkyl" and “alkyl*" each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, and

“alkenyP denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms, and (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, and l_5 denotes a H atom or CH ₃ , preferably a H atom.

“alkenyf preferably denotes CH ₂ =CH-, CH ₂ =CHCH ₂ CH ₂ -, CH ₃ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ - CH ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -CH=CH- or CH ₃ -CH=CH- (CH ₂ ) ₂ -.

Very preferably the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Y2 selected from Formulae Y2-2 and Y2-10. The proportion of the compounds of Formula Y1 or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 0 to 10% by weight.

The proportion of the compounds of Formula Y2 or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 0 to 10% by weight.

The total proportion of the compounds of Formula Y1 and Y2 or their subformulae in the medium is preferably from 1 to 20%, very preferably from 2 to 15% by weight.

Preferably the medium contains 1 , 2 or 3 compounds of Formula Y 1 and Y2 or their subformulae, very preferably selected from Formulae Y1-2, Y1-22, Y1-66, Y1-70, Y2-6 and Y2-22.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Y selected from the following subformula wherein U , l_2, R^ and R^ have one of the meanings given in Formula Y or one of the preferred meanings as given in Formulae I and its subformulae.

Preferred compounds of the Formula Y3 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae: in which,

“Alkyl" and “Alkyl*" each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms,

“Alkenyl" and “Alkenyl*" each, independently of one another, denote a straightchain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms, and

O denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond.

“Alkenyl" and “Alkenyl*" preferably denote CH CH=CH-, CH ₃ -CH ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ )2-C CH ₃ -CH=CH-(CH ₂ )2--

Particularly preferred compounds of the Formula Y3 are selected from the group consisting of following subformulae: wherein “Alkoxy” and “Alkoxy*" each, independently of one another, preferably denote straight-chain alkoxy with 3, 4, or 5 C atoms.

Preferably in the compounds of Formula Y3 and its subformulae both U and l_2 denote F. Further preferably in the compounds of Formula Y3 one of the radicals U and l_2 denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

The proportion of the compounds of Formula Y3 or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 1 to 10%, very preferably from 1 to 6% by weight.

Preferably the medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds of Formula Y3 or its subformulae, preferably of Formula Y3-6, very preferably of Formula Y3-6A.

In another preferred embodiment the present invention the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Y selected from the subformula Y4 in which R1 and R2 each, independently of one another, have one of the meanings indicated above in Formula Y, and each, independently of one another, denote in which L$ denotes F or Cl, preferably F, and L® denotes F, Cl, OCF3, CF3, CH3, CH2F or CHF2, preferably F, and preferably at least one of the rings G, I and K is different from unsubstituted benzene.

Preferred compounds of the Formula Y4 are selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae: in which

R denotes a straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1-7 C atoms,

R* denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-7 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, and m denotes an integer from 1 to 6.

R* preferably denotes CH ₂ =CH-, CH ₂ =CHCH ₂ CH ₂ -, CH ₃ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -CH ₂ - CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -CH=CH- or CH ₃ -CH=CH-(CH ₂ ) ₂ -.

R preferably denotes methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy or pentoxy.

The proportion of the compounds of Formula Y4 or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 1 to 10%, very preferably from 1 to 6% by weight.

Particularly preferred compounds are those of the subformulae in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, in particular ethyl, propyl or pentyl

Use of the following compounds is particularly advantageous: In another preferred embodiment the present invention the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula Y selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae in which has one of the meanings indicated above in Formula Y for Fd , “alkyl” denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, L ^x denotes H or F, X denotes F, Cl, OCF3, OCHF2 or OCH=CF2, d denotes 0 or 1 , and z and m each, independently of one another, denote an integer from 1 to 6.

R$ in these compounds is particularly preferably C2-6-alkyl or -alkoxy or C2-6- alkenyl, d is preferably 1. X in these compounds is particularly preferably F. The LC medium according to the invention preferably comprises one or more compounds of the above-mentioned formulae in amounts of > 5% by weight.

In the compounds of Formula B and its subformulae, R1 and RS preferably denote straight-chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 C atoms, in particular methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy or butoxy, furthermore alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in particular vinyl, 1 E-propenyl, 1E-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1E-pentenyl, 3E-pentenyl or 4-pentenyl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula B selected from the following subformulae wherein U , L?, R^ and R^ have the meanings given in Formula B.

Preferred compounds of Formula B1 are selected from the following subformulae: wherein R1 and RS independently denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, in which one or more CH2 groups are optionally substituted by -C=C-, directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may be replaced by a halogen atom. Very preferred are compounds of Formula B1-1 and B1-2 wherein both groups (O) denote an oxygen atom and R^ and R^ independently denote an alkyl group being methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl, which are preferably straight-chained. Very preferably one “alkyl” is ethyl and the other “alkyl” is n-pentyl.

Very preferred are compounds of Formula B1-2.

Preferably, the compounds of the Formula B1-1 are selected from the group of compounds of Formulae B1-1-1 to B1-1-11, preferably of Formula B1-1-6,

in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms, alkoxy and alkoxy* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 C atoms.

Preferably, the compounds of the Formula B1-2 are selected from the group of compounds of Formulae B1-2-1 to B1-2-10, preferably of Formula B1-2-6, B1-2-10, in which alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms, alkoxy and alkoxy* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 C atoms.

Optionally the medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula B1-1A and/or B1-2A in which

(O) denotes O or a single bond, RH'A denotes alkyl or alkenyl having up to 7 C atoms or a group Cy-C _m H2m+1 ^_ , m and n are, identically or differently, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, preferably 1, 2 or 3, very preferably 1 ,

Cy denotes a cycloaliphatic group having 3, 4 or 5 ring atoms, which is optionally substituted with alkyl or alkenyl each having up to 3 C atoms, or with halogen or CN, and preferably denotes cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopentyl. The compounds of Formulae B1-1A and/or B1-2A are contained in the medium either alternatively or in addition to the compounds of Formulae B1-1 and B1-2, preferably additionally.

Very preferred compounds of the Formulae B1-1A and/or B1-2A are the following: in which alkoxy denotes a straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 C atoms or alternativey -(CH2)nF in which n is 2,3,4, or 5, preferably C2H4F.

The proportion of the compounds of Formula B1 or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 1 to 20%, very preferably from 1 to 15% by weight. Preferably the medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds of Formula B1 or its subformulae.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the medium may comprise one or more compounds of Formula B2-2 in which

R1, R3 identically or differently, denote H, an alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, in which one or more CH2 groups in these radicals are optionally replaced, independently of one another, by -C=C-, -CF2O-, -OCF2-, e not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen.

The compounds of Formula B2-2 are preferably selected from the group of compounds of the Formulae B2-2-1 to B2-2-10: in which R ³ denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C-atoms, preferably ethyl, n-propyl or n- butyl, or alternatively cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl or cyclopentylmethyl or alternatively -(CH2)nF in which n is 2,3,4, or 5, preferably C2H4F. Particularly preferred compounds of Formula B2 are selected from the following subformulae:

The proportion of the compounds of Formula B2 or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 1 to 20%, very preferably from 1 to 15% by weight.

Preferably the LC medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds of Formula B2 or its subformulae.

Preferred compounds of Formula B3 are selected from the following subformulae: wherein R1 has one of the meanings given in Formula B3 and preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms, very preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl, more preferably ethyl or propyl, most preferably propyl, and X1 has one of the meanings given in Formula B3 and preferably denotes CF3 or OCF ₃ .

Preferred compounds of Formula B3 are selected from the following subformulae: wherein R^ has one of the meanings given in Formula B3 and preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms, very preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl, more preferably ethyl or propyl, most preferably propyl.

Most preferred are compounds of Formulae B3-1-1 and B3-2-2.

In a preferred embodiment the medium contains one or more compounds of Formula B or its subformulae B1 , B2, B3, B1-1 , B1-2, B2-1 , B2-2, B2-3, B3-1 , B3-2, B3-1-1 , B3-1-2, B3-2-1 and B3-2-2 wherein the dibenzofuran or dibenzothiophene group is substituted by a methyl or methoxy group, preferably by a methyl group, preferably in p-position to the substituent F, very preferably in p-position to the substituent F (/.e. in m-position to the terminal group R^ or X^). The proportion of the compounds of Formula B3 or its subformulae in the LC medium is preferably from 1 to 20%, very preferably from 1 to 10% by weight.

Preferably the LC medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds of Formula B3 or its subformulae.

Preferably the total proportion of compounds of Formula Y and B or their subformulae in the medium is from 2 to 25%, very preferably from 3 to 20% by weight.

Further preferred embodiments are indicated below:

The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula Y selected from the following subformula wherein R\ R2 U , L?, X, x and Z ^x have the meanings given in Formula Y, and wherein at least one of the rings X is cyclohexenylene.

Preferably, both radicals U and L? denote F. Further preferably one of the radicals U and L? denotes F and the other denotes Cl.

The compounds of the Formula LY are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae: in which R1 has the meaning indicated in Formula Y above, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, and v denotes an integer from 1 to 6. R1 preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in particular CH3, C2H5, n-C ₃ Hy, n-C^g, n-CsHu, CH ₂ =CH-, CH ₂ =CHCH ₂ CH ₂ -, CH ₃ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -CH ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -CH=CH- or CH ₃ -CH=CH-(CH ₂ ) ₂ -.

Very preferred are compounds of Formula LY4. Preferably the medium contains 1, 2 or 3 compounds of Formula LY, very preferably of Formula LY4.

The proportion of the compounds of Formula LY or its subformulae in the medium is preferably from 1 to 10% by weight.

The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula Y selected from the following subformula wherein R\ R2 U, L?, Y, y and ZY have the meanings given in Formula Y, and wherein at least one of the rings Y is tetrahydropyrane.

The compounds of the Formula AY are preferably selected from the group consisting of the following subformulae:

in which R1 has the meaning indicated above, “alkyl” denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, (O) denotes an oxygen atom or a single bond, and v denotes an integer from 1 to 6. R1 preferably denotes straightchain alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms or straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms, in particular CH3, C2H5, n-C ₃ Hy, n-C^g, n-CsH^ , CH2=CH-, CH ₂ =CHCH ₂ CH ₂ -, CH ₃ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -CH ₂ -CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ )2- CH=CH-, CH ₃ -(CH ₂ )3-CH=CH- or CH ₃ -CH=CH-(CH ₂ )2--

The medium does not contain a compound of Formula Y, B, LY or AY.

The medium does not contain a compound having a 1,4-phenylene group that is substituted in 2- and 3-position with F or Cl.

The medium additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the following formulae:

wherein the individual radicals, independently of each other and on each occurrence identically or differently, have the following meanings

RO one of the meanings given for R1 in Formula I,

X0 F, Cl, CN, SF5, SCN, NCS, a halogenated alkyl radical, a halogenated alkenyl radical, a halogenated alkoxy radical or a halogenated alkenyloxy radical having up to 6 C atoms, and Y ¹ ' ⁶ H or F,

Y° H or CH ₃ .

Preferred compounds of Formula II and III are those wherein Y^ is H.

Further preferred compounds of Formula II and III are those wherein RO denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms, very preferably ethyl or propyl, and denotes F or OCF3, very preferably F.

The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula II selected from the following subformulae:

in which R^ and have the meanings given in Formula II.

Preferred compounds are those of Formula 111 , II2 and 113, very preferred those of Formula 111 and II2.

In the compounds of Formulae 111 to II7 R^ preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms, very preferably ethyl or propyl, and preferably denotes F or OCF3, very preferably F.

The medium contains one or more compounds of Formula II or their subformulae as described above and below wherein is CH3, Very preferably the medium according to this preferred embodiment comprises one or more compounds of Formula II selected from the following subformulae: in which RO and have the meanings given in Formula II.

Preferred compounds are those of Formula I IA1 , I IA2 and IIA3, very preferred those of Formula IIA1 and IIA2. In the compounds of Formulae IIA1 to I IA7 R^ preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms, very preferably ethyl or propyl, preferably denotes F or OCF3, very preferably F.

-The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula III selected from the following subformulae: in which RO and have the meanings given in Formula II.

Preferred compounds are those of Formula 1111 , III4, III6, 11116, II 119 and III20.

In the compounds of Formulae 1111 to 11121 R^ preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6

C atoms, very preferably ethyl or propyl, preferably denotes F or OCF3, very preferably F, and y2 preferably denotes F.

The medium contains one or more compounds of Formula III or their subformulae as described above and below wherein is CH3, Very preferably the medium according to this preferred embodiment comprises one or more compounds of Formula III selected from the following subformulae:

in which R^ and have the meanings given in Formula III.

Preferred compounds are those of Formula IIIA1 , IIIA4, IIIA6, IIIA16, IIIA19 and IIIA20.

In the compounds of Formulae IIIA1 to IIIA21 R^ preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms, very preferably ethyl or propyl, preferably denotes F or OCF3, very preferably F, and y2 preferably denotes F. The medium additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the following formulae: in which

R°, X° and Y ¹ ' ⁵ have the meanings indicated in Formulae II and III, zo denotes -C ₂ ^H 4-, -(CH ₂ ) ₄ -, -CH=CH-, -CF=CF-, -C ₂ F ₄ -, - CH ₂ CF ₂ -, -CF ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ O-, -OCH ₂ -, -COO- or -OCF ₂ -, in Formulae V and VI also a single bond, in Formulae V and VIII also -CF2O-, r denotes 0 or 1 , and s denotes 0 or 1 .

The compounds of the Formula IV are preferably selected from the following formulae: in which R^ and have the meanings indicated in Formulae II and III.

RO preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. preferably denotes F or OCF3, furthermore OCF=CF2 or Cl;

The compounds of the Formula IVa are preferably selected from the following subformula:

The compounds of the Formula IVb are preferably represented by the following formula:

The compounds of the Formula IVc are preferably selected from the following subformula: in which R^ has the meanings indicated in Formula II and is preferably propyl or pentyl.

The compound(s) of the Formula IVc, in particular of the Formula IVc1 , is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 1-20% by weight, particularly preferably 2-15% by weight.

The compounds of the Formula V are preferably selected from the following subformulae:

in which have the meanings indicated in Formula II.

RO preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. preferably denotes F and OCF3, furthermore OCHF2, CF3, OCF=CF2 and OCH=CF2; The compounds of the Formula VI are preferably selected from the following subformulae: in which R^ and have the meanings indicated in Formula II.

RO preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. preferably denotes F, furthermore OCF3, CF3, CF=CF2, OCHF2 and OCH=CF2;

The compounds of the Formula VII are preferably selected from the following subformulae:

in which R^ and have the meanings indicated in Formula II.

RO preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. preferably denotes F, furthermore OCF3, OCHF2 and OCH=CF2.

In some embodiments, the medium additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the following formulae: in which

RO each, independently of one another, have one of the meanings indicated in Formula II,

Y^"4 each, independently of one another, denote H or F,

Y$ denotes H or CH3, preferably H,

X° is preferably F, Cl, CF3, OCF3 or OCHF ₂ ,

RO preferably denotes alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl, fluoroalkyl or alkenyl, each having up to 6 C atoms.

Very preferably the medium according to the invention comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXa, in which R^ has the meanings of R1 in Formula I. R^ preferably denotes straightchain alkyl, in particular ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl or n-pentyl and very particularly preferably n-propyl.

The compound(s) of the Formula XX, in particular of the Formula XXa, is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 0-15% by weight, particularly preferably 1-10% by weight.

Very preferably the medium according to the invention comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXIa, in which R^ has the meaning of R^ in Formula I. R^ preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl, in particular ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl or n-pentyl and very particularly preferably n-propyl.

The compound(s) of the Formula XXI, in particular of the Formula XXIa, is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 1-15% by weight, particularly preferably 2-10% by weight.

Further preferably the medium according to the invention comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXI I la, in which R^ has the meaning of R^ in Formula I. R^ preferably denotes straight-chain alkyl, in particular ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl or n-pentyl and very particularly preferably n-propyl. The compound(s) of the Formula XXIII, in particular of the Formula XXI I la, is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 0.5-5% by weight, particularly preferably 0.5-2% by weight.

The medium additionally comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXIV, in which RO, have the meanings indicated in Formula III, s denotes 0 or 1 , and

In the Formula XXIV, X^ may also denote an alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms or an alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 C atoms. The alkyl or alkoxy radical is preferably straight-chain.

RO preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. X^ preferably denotes F;

The compounds of the Formula XXIV are preferably selected from the following subformulae: in which RO, X^ and have the meanings indicated in Formula III. R^ preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. X^ preferably denotes F, is preferably F;

RO is straight-chain alkyl or alkenyl having 2 to 6 C atoms;

The medium may further comprise one or more compounds of the following formulae: in which R1 have the meanings indicated in Formula II, respectively. R1 preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. X^ preferably denotes F or Cl. In the Formula XXIV, X^ very particularly preferably denotes Cl.

The medium comprises one or more compounds of the following formulae: R1 and X^ have the meanings of RO and X^ indicated in Formula II, respectively. R1 preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. X^ preferably denotes F. The medium according to the invention particularly preferably comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXIX in which X^ preferably denotes F.

The compound of general Formula XXX may be advantageously selected from one of the following Formulae XXX1 to XXX3, wherein use of the compound of Formula XXX1 is particularly preferred:

The compound(s) of the Formulae XXVI - XXIX is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 1-20% by weight, particularly preferably 1-15% by weight. Particularly preferred mixtures comprise at least one compound of the Formula XXIX.

In some further embodiments, the medium comprises one or more compounds of the following formulae: XXXV in which R1 and R2 have the meanings indicated in Formula I, and preferably each, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms.

Very preferably the medium according to the invention comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXIXa: in which R^ has the meanings indicated in Formula I, and preferably denotes straightchain alkyl, in particular ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl or n-pentyl and very particularly preferably n-propyl.

The compound(s) of the Formula XXIXa is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 1-15% by weight, particularly preferably 2-10% by weight.

The medium may further comprise one or more compounds of the following pyrimidine or pyridine compounds of the formulae in which R1 and X^ have the meanings indicated in Formula II for R^ and X^, respectively. R1 preferably denotes alkyl having 1 to 6 C atoms. X^ preferably denotes F. The medium according to the invention particularly preferably comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXX11 , in which X^ preferably denotes F. The compound(s) of the Formulae XXX11 to XXXI3 is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 1-20% by weight, particularly preferably 1-15% by weight.

The medium may additionally comprise one or more compounds of the following formulae: in which L, R1 and R2 have the meanings indicated in Formula Y for Y^ , R1 and R2, respectively. R1 and R2 preferably denote alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl, fluoroalkyl or alkenyl, each having up to 6 C atoms.

Very preferably, the medium according to the invention comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXXVa, in which "alkyl" denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, in particular ethyl, propyl or pentyl.

The compound(s) of the Formula XXXV, in particular of the Formula XXXVa, is (are) preferably employed in the mixtures according to the invention in amounts of 0.5-10% by weight, particularly preferably 1-5% by weight.

Further preferred LC media are selected from the following preferred embodiments, including any combination thereof:

The total content of compounds of the Formulae I and S in the LC medium is preferably 2 to 80% by weight, preferably 5 to 70% by weight, and particularly preferably 10 to 60% by weight, based on the weight of the LC medium.

Preferably, the proportion of compounds of Formula ST, as described above or listed in Table G, in the LC medium is from 10 to 2000 ppm, very preferably from 30 to 1000 ppm by weight.

Preferred content of the one or more compounds of Formula H in the LC medium depends inter alia on the inherent chemical stability of the LC medium as well as on the nature of the compound of Formula H. Compounds of Formula H in which R16 denotes O, which are known as NO radical type HALS are preferably used in proportion ranging from 50 ppm to 1000 ppm by weight, based on the weight of the LC medium. Compounds of Formula H in which R16 denotes a H atom, which are known as NH radical type HALS are advantageously used in proportion ranging from 50 ppm to 2000 ppm by weight, based on the weight of the LC medium.

The following embodiments of the present invention showed particularly advantageous properties:

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula I or its subformulae, a compound of Formula H and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Y, B, LY, AY, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVIIa, XVIIb, XVIIc, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXXI, XXXI1 , XXXI2, XXXI3, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV and XXXV and their sub-formulae. - The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula I or its subformulae, a compound of Formula H and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae Z1 , Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Y, B, II, III, IV, VI, XIV, XVI, XVIIa, XVIIb, XVIIc, XX, XII, XXIII, XXIX, XXXII and XXXV and their subformulae.

- The medium does not contain a compound of Formula Y, B, AY or LY.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula II, preferably selected from the group consisting of Formula 111 , II2 and 113, very preferably from Formula 111 and II2. The individual concentration of each of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 15% by weight. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 5 to 25% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula III, preferably selected from the group consisting of Formula 1111 , I II4, I II6, 11116, 11119 and III20, very preferably from the group consisting of Formula 1111 , III6, III 16 and III20. The individual concentration of each of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 15% by weight. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 5 to 30% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula IV, preferably selected from Formula IVa or IVc, very preferably from Formula IVa1 or IVc1 , most preferably of Formula IVc1. The individual concentration of each of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 15% by weight. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 5 to 20% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula VI, preferably selected from Formula VI b. The individual concentration of each of these compounds is preferably from 1 to 20% by weight. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 5 to 20% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula Z1 , preferably selected from Formula Z1-1. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 1 to 25% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula Z2, preferably selected from Formulae Z2-1 and Z2-2. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 35%, very preferably from 3 to 25% by weight. - The medium comprises from 5 to 20% by weight of compounds of Formula Z3, preferably of Formula Z3-1.

- The medium comprises from 5 to 20% by weight of compounds of Formula Z4, preferably of Formula Z4-1.

- The medium comprises from 10 to 65%, very preferably from 20 to 60% by weight of compounds of Formula Z5.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XII, preferably of the Formula XI la or XI I b, very preferably of Formula XI la, most preferably of Formula XI Ia1. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 15% by weight.

- The medium comprises from 1 to 15% by weight of compounds of Formula XI I b.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XIV, preferably of the Formula XlVd, very preferably of Formula XIVd1. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XVIb, preferably of Formula XVIbl , XVIb2 and/or XVI3. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 15% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XVIc, preferably of Formula XVId, XVIc2 and/or XVIc3. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 20% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XVIg, preferably of the Formula XVIgl and/or XVIg2. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 5 to 25% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae XVIIa, XVIIb and XVIIc, very preferably of Formula XVIIa wherein L is H and of Formula XVIIb wherein L is F. The total concentration of these compounds is preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XX, preferably of the Formula XXa. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight. - The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXI, preferably of the Formula XXIa. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXIII, preferably of the Formula XXIIIa. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXIX, preferably of the Formula XXIXa. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXXI, preferably of the Formula XXXIa. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXXII. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXXII. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 2 to 10% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of the Formula XXXV, preferably of the Formula XXXVa. The concentration of these compounds is preferably from 1 to 5% by weight.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula I, a compound of Formula H, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae Z1 , Z2, Z3, Z4, and Z5 or their sub-formulae, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae Z1 , Z2 and XIV or their subformulae, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae II, III, IV, VI, XX, XXIII and XXIX or their sub-formulae, and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae XII, XVI, XVI la, XVI I b, XVIIc, XXXII and XXXV or their sub-formulae.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula I, a compound of Formula H, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae Z1 , Z2 and Z3, Z4, Z5 or their sub-formulae, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae Z1-1 , Z2-2, Z5 and XlVd or their sub-formulae, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae II, III, IVc, Vlb, XXa, XXIIIa and XXIXa or their sub-formulae, and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae XI lb, XVIb, XVIc, XVIIa, XVI lb, XVIIc, XXXII and XXXVa or their sub-formulae.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula I, a compound of Formula H, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae Z1 , Z2, Z3, Z4 and Z5 or their sub-formulae, one or more compounds of Formula Y, preferably selected from the group consisting of the Formulae Y1 and Y2, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formula XIV or its sub-formulae, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae II, III, IV, VI, XX, XXIII and XXIX or their sub-formulae, and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae XII, XVI, XVIIa, XVI lb, XVIIc, XXXII and XXXV or their sub-formulae.

- The medium comprises one or more compounds of Formula I, a compound of Formula H, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae Z1 , Z2, Z3, Z4 and Z5 or their sub-formulae, one or more compounds of Formula B, preferably selected from the group consisting of the Formulae B1 , B2 and B3, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae Z1-1 , Z2-2, Z5 and XlVd or their sub-formulae, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae II, III, IVc, VI b, XXa, XXI I la and XXIXa or their sub-formulae, and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the Formulae Xllb, XVIb, XVIc, XVIIa, XVIIb, XVIIc, XXXII and XXXVa or their sub-formulae.

- Besides the compounds of the Formulae I and H, the medium comprises further compounds selected from the group of the compounds of the Formula Z1 , Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Y, B, IV, XII, XIV, XVI, XVIIa, XVIIb, XVIIc, XXI, XXIII, XXIX, XXXI, XXXII and XXIV or their sub-formulae.

- Besides the compounds of the Formulae I and H, the medium comprises further compounds selected from the group of the compounds of the Formula Z1 , Z2, Z3, IV, XII, XIV, XVI, XVIIa, XVIIb, XVIIc, XXI, XXIII, XXIX, XXXI, XXXII and XXIV or their sub-formulae.

The proportion of compounds of Formula I or its sub-formulae in the medium is from 1 to 30%, very preferably from 2 to 25%, most preferably from 2 to 20% by weight. - The proportion of compounds of the Formula Z1 , Z2 and Z3 or their subformulae in the mixture as a whole is from 10 to 65%, very preferably from 20 to 60%.

- The proportion of compounds of the Formula Y or its sub-formulae in the mixture as a whole is from 1 to 20%, very preferably from 2 to 15%.

- The proportion of compounds of the Formula B or its sub-formulae in the mixture as a whole is from 1 to 20%, very preferably from 2 to 18%.

- The proportion of compounds of the Formulae II, III, IV-VIII, XVIII-XXIII and XXVII-XXXI in the mixture as a whole is 30 to 60% by weight.

- The proportion of compounds of the Formulae IX-XV in the mixture as a whole is 40 to 70% by weight.

- The proportion of compounds of the Formulae XIV, XVIIa-c and XXXII-XXXV in the mixture as a whole is 0.5 to 15% by weight.

Preferably, the term "alkyl" or "alkyl*" in this application encompasses straightchain and branched alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, in particular the straight-chain groups methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl. Groups having 2 to 5 carbon atoms are generally preferred.

Preferably, the term "alkenyl" or “alkenyl*” encompasses straight-chain and branched alkenyl groups having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, in particular the straight-chain groups. Preferred alkenyl groups are C2-C7-1E-alkenyl, C^Cg-SE-alkenyl, in particular C2-CQ-1E-alkenyl. Examples of particularly preferred alkenyl groups are vinyl, 1 E-propenyl, 1 E-butenyl, 1E-pentenyl, 1E-hexenyl, 3-butenyl, 3E-pentenyl, 3E-hexenyl, 4-pentenyl, 4Z-hexenyl, 4E-hexenyl and 5-hexenyl. Groups having up to 5 carbon atoms are generally preferred, in particular CH2=CH, CH3CH=CH.

The term "fluoroalkyl" preferably encompasses straight-chain groups having a terminal fluorine, i.e. fluoromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 3-fluoropropyl, 4-fluorobutyl, 5-fluoropentyl, 6-fluorohexyl and 7-fluoroheptyl. However, other positions of the fluorine are not excluded.

The term "oxaalkyl" or "alkoxy" preferably encompasses straight-chain radicals of the formula C _n H2n+l-O-(CH2)m, ' ⁿ which n and m each, independently of one another, denote 1 to 6. m may also denote 0. Preferably, n = 1 and m = 1-6 or m = 0 and n = 1-3. Further preferably the alkoxy or oxaalkyl group can also contain one or more further O atoms such that oxygen atoms are not directly linked to one another.

Through a suitable choice of the meanings of RO and X^, the addressing times, the threshold voltage, the steepness of the transmission characteristic lines, etc., can be modified in the desired manner. For example, 1 E-alkenyl radicals, 3E-alkenyl radicals, 2E-alkenyloxy radicals and the like generally result in shorter addressing times, improved nematic tendencies and a higher ratio between the elastic constants k33 (bend) and k^ (splay) compared with alkyl and alkoxy radicals. 4-Alkenyl radicals, 3-alkenyl radicals and the like generally give lower threshold voltages and lower values of k33 / k-| 1 compared with alkyl and alkoxy radicals.

The mixtures according to the invention are distinguished, in particular, by high As values and thus have significantly faster response times than the mixtures from the prior art.

The optimum mixing ratio of the compounds of the above-mentioned formulae depends substantially on the desired properties, on the choice of the components of the above-mentioned formulae and on the choice of any further components that may be present.

Suitable mixing ratios within the range indicated above can easily be determined from case to case.

The total amount of compounds of the above-mentioned formulae in the liquidcrystalline media according to the invention is not crucial. The mixtures can therefore comprise one or more further components for the purposes of optimisation of various properties. However, the observed effect on the desired improvement in the properties of the medium is generally greater, the higher the total concentration of compounds of the above-mentioned formulae.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention comprise compounds of the Formulae IV to VIII (preferably IV and V) in which X° denotes F, OCF ₃ , OCHF ₂ , OCH=CF ₂ , OCF=CF ₂ or OCF ₂ -CF ₂ H. A favourable synergistic action with the compounds of the Formulae I, II and III results in particularly advantageous properties. In particular, mixtures comprising compounds of the Formulae I, H, II and III are distinguished by their low threshold voltage.

The individual compounds of the above-mentioned formulae and the sub-formulae thereof which can be used in the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention are either known or can be prepared analogously to the known compounds.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a liquid-crystalline medium as described above and below, by mixing one or more compounds of the Formula I with one or more compounds of the Formulae Y1, Y2 or Y3, one or more compounds of Formula B, and one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Formulae II, III, IV, VI, IX, X, XIV, XII, XVI, XVIIa, XVIIb, XVIIc, XX, XXIII, XXIX, XXXII and XXXV.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the liquid-crystalline medium additionally comprises one or more polymerisable compounds. The polymerisable compounds are preferably selected from Formula M

Ra-Bl-(Zb-B ² ) _m -Rb M in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning:

R ^a and R ^b P, P-Sp-, H, F, Cl, Br, I, -CN, -NO ₂ , -NCO, -NCS, -OCN, -SCN, SF ₅ or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH ₂ groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by -C(R^)=C(R^)-, such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, Br, I, CN, P or P-Sp-, where, if B^ and/or B? contain a saturated C atom, R ^a and/or R ^b may also denote a radical which is spiro-linked to this saturated C atom, wherein at least one of the radicals R ^a and R ^b denotes or contains a group P or P-Sp-,

P a polymerisable group,

Sp a spacer group or a single bond,

B1 and B? an aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic group, preferably having 4 to 25 ring atoms, which may also contain fused rings, and which is unsubstituted, or mono- or polysubstituted by L,

Z ^b -O-, -S-, -CO-, -CO-O-, -OCO-, -O-CO-O-, -OCH ₂ -, -CH ₂ O-, -SCH ₂ -,

-CH ₂ S-, -CF ₂ O-, -OCF ₂ -, -CF ₂ S-, -SCF ₂ -, -(CH ₂ ) _n1 -, -CF ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CF ₂ -, -(CF ₂ ) _n1 -, -CH=CH-, -CF=CF-, -C=C-, -CH=CH-COO-, -OCO-CH=CH-, CROROO or a single bond,

RO and R^O each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 12 C atoms, m denotes 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, n1 denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4,

L P, P-Sp-, OH, CH ₂ OH, F, Cl, Br, I, -CN, -NO ₂ , -NCO, -NCS, -OCN,

-SCN, -C(=O)N(R ^X ) ₂ , -C(=O)Y ¹ , -C(=O)R ^X , -N(R ^X ) ₂ , optionally substituted silyl, optionally substituted aryl having 6 to 20 C atoms, or straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, P or P-Sp-,

P and Sp have the meanings indicated above, denotes halogen, R ^x denotes P, P-Sp-, H, halogen, straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non- adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO-, -CO-O-, -O-CO-, -O-CO-O- in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, P or P-Sp-, an optionally substituted aryl or aryloxy group having 6 to 40 C atoms, or an optionally substituted heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy group having 2 to 40 C atoms.

Particularly preferred compounds of the Formula M are those in which B^ and B? each, independently of one another, denote 1 ,4-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, naphthalene-1,4-diyl, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, 9,10-dihydro- phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, anthracene-2,7-diyl, fluorene-2,7-diyl, coumarine, flavone, where, in addition, one or more CH groups in these groups may be replaced by N, cyclohexane-1 ,4-diyl, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by O and/or S, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, bicycle[1.1.1]pentane-1,3- diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-diyl, spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-diyl, piperidine-1 ,4-diyl, decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, indane-2,5- diyl or octahydro-4, 7-methanoindane-2,5-diyl, where all these groups may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by L as defined above.

Particularly preferred compounds of the Formula M are those in which B^ and B2each, independently of one another, denote 1 ,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, naphthalene-1,4-diyl or naphthalene-2,6-diyl.

Very preferred compounds of Formula M are selected from the following formulae:

in which the individual radicals, on each occurrence identically or differently, and each, independently of one another, have the following meaning: p1, p2, p3 a polymerisable group, preferably selected from vinyloxy, acrylate, methacrylate, fluoroacrylate, chloroacrylate, oxetane and epoxy,

Sp1 , Sp2, SpS a single bond or a spacer group where, in addition, one or more of the radicals p1-Sp1-, p1-Sp2- and p3-Sp3- may denote R ^aa , with the proviso that at least one of the radicals p1-Sp1-, P^-Sp^ and p3-Sp3- present is different from R ^aa , preferably -(CH2)pi-, -(CH2)pi-O-, -(CH2)pi-CO-O- or -(CH2)pi-O-CO-O-, wherein p1 is an integer from 1 to 12,

R ^aa H, F, Cl, CN or straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 25 C atoms, in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by -O-CO-O- in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN or p1-Sp1-, particularly preferably straight-chain or branched, optionally mono- or polyfluorinated alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyhoxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 12 C atoms (where the alkenyl and alkynyl radicals have at least two C atoms and the branched radicals have at least three C atoms),

R0 ROO H _{or a} |kyl having 1 to 12 C atoms,

RY and R ^z H, F, CH ₃ or CF ₃ ,

X1, x2, x3 -CO-O-, -O-CO- or a single bond,

Z ^{M 1} -O-, -CO-, -C(RYR ^Z )- or -CF ₂ CF ₂ -,

_Z M2 _Z M3 -CO-O-, -O-CO-, -CH ₂ O-, -OCH ₂ -, -CF ₂ O-, -OCF ₂ - or -(CH ₂ ) _n -, where n is 2, 3 or 4,

L F, Cl, CN or straight-chain or branched, optionally mono- or polyfluorinated alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy having 1 to 12 C atoms,

L', L" H, F or Cl, r 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, s 0, 1, 2 or 3, t 0, 1 or 2, x 0 or 1.

Especially preferred are compounds of Formulae M2 and M13.

Further preferred are trireactive compounds M15 to M31, in particular M 17, M18, M19, M22, M23, M24, M25, M30 and M31.

In the compounds of Formulae M1 to M31 the group

wherein L on each occurrence, identically or differently, has one of the meanings given above or below, and is preferably F, Cl, CN, NO2, CH3, C2H5, C(CH3)3, CH(CH ₃ ) ₂ , CH ₂ CH(CH3)C ₂ H5, OCH3, OC ₂ H ₅ , COCH3, COC ₂ H ₅ , COOCH3, COOC ₂ H ₅ , CF ₃ , OCF3, OCHF ₂ , OC ₂ F ₅ or P-Sp-, very preferably F, Cl, CN, CH3, C2H5, OCH3, COCH3, OCF3 or P-Sp-, more preferably F, Cl, CH3, OCH3, COCH3 or OCF3, especially F or CH3.

Preferred compounds of Formulae M1 to M31 are those wherein p1, p2 and p3 denote an acrylate, methacrylate, oxetane or epoxy group, very preferably an acrylate or methacrylate group.

Further preferred compounds of Formulae M1 to M31 are those wherein Sp1 , Sp2 and SpS are a single bond.

Further preferred compounds of Formulae M1 to M31 are those wherein one of Sp1 , Sp2 and SpS is a single bond and another one of Sp1 , Sp2 and SpS is different from a single bond.

Further preferred compounds of Formulae M1 to M31 are those wherein those groups Sp1, Sp2 and SpS that are different from a single bond denote -(CH2)S1-X"-, wherein s1 is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 2, 3, 4 or 5, and X" is X" is the linkage to the benzene ring and is -O-, -O-CO-, -CO-O-, -O-CO-O- or a single bond.

Particular preference is given to liquid-crystalline media comprising one, two or three polymerisable compounds of Formula M, preferably selected from Formulae M1 to M31. Further preferably the liquid-crystalline media according to the present invention comprise one or more polymerisable compounds selected from Table E below.

Preferably the proportion of polymerisable compounds in the liquid-crystalline medium, preferably selected from Formula M and Table E, is from 0.01 to 5%, very preferably from 0.05 to 1%, most preferably from 0.1 to 0.5%.

It was observed that the addition of one or more polymerisable compounds to the liquid-crystalline medium, like those selected from Formula M and Table E, leads to advantageous properties like fast response times. Such a liquid-crystalline medium is especially suitable for use in PSA displays where it shows low image sticking, a quick and complete polymerisation, the quick generation of a low pretilt angle which is stable after UV exposure, a high reliability, high VHR value after UV exposure, and a high birefringence. By appropriate selection of the polymerisable compounds it is possible to increase the absorption of the liquid-crystalline medium at longer UV wavelengths, so that it is possible to use such longer UV wavelengths for polymerisation, which is advantageous for the display manufacturing process.

The polymerisable group P is a group which is suitable for a polymerisation reaction, such as, for example, free-radical or ionic chain polymerisation, polyaddition or polycondensation, or for a polymer-analogous reaction, for example addition or condensation onto a main polymer chain. Particular preference is given to groups for chain polymerisation, in particular those containing a C=C double bond or -C=C- triple bond, and groups which are suitable for polymerisation with ring opening, such as, for example, oxetane or epoxide groups. CW ² W ³ -, HS-CW ² W ³ -, HW ² N-, HO-CW ² W ³ -NH-, CH ₂ =CW ¹ -CO-NH-, CH ₂ =CH- (COO) _k1 -Phe-(O) _k2 -, CH ₂ =CH-(CO) _k1 -Phe-(O) _k2 -, Phe-CH=CH-, HOOC-, OCN- and w4w®W®Si-, in which denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF3, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl or CH3, W ² and W ³ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, 70, W® and 77® each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, 77^ and 77 ³ each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1 ,4-phenylene, which is optionally substituted by one or more radicals L as defined above which are other than P-Sp-, k-| , k ₂ and k3 each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1 , k3 preferably denotes 1 , and k4 denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

Very preferred groups P are selected from the group consisting of CH ₂ =CW^-CO-O- ₂ CH ₂ =CW ² -, CW ¹ =CH-CO-(O) _k3 -, CW ¹ =CH- CO-NH-, CH ₂ =CW ¹ -CO-NH-, (CH ₂ =CH) ₂ CH-OCO-, (CH ₂ =CH-CH ₂ ) ₂ CH-OCO-, (CH ₂ =CH) ₂ CH-O-, (CH ₂ =CH-CH ₂ ) ₂ N-, (CH ₂ =CH-CH ₂ ) ₂ N-CO-, CH ₂ =CW ¹ -CO- NH-, CH ₂ =CH-(COO) _k1 -Phe-(O) _k2 -, CH ₂ =CH-(CO) _k1 -Phe-(O) _k2 -, Phe-CH=CH- and w4w®W®Si-, in which 77^ denotes H, F, Cl, CN, CF3, phenyl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, F, Cl or CH3, W ² and W ³ each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, in particular H, methyl, ethyl or n- propyl, 70, 77® and 77® each, independently of one another, denote Cl, oxaalkyl or oxacarbonylalkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, 77^ and 77 ³ each, independently of one another, denote H, Cl or alkyl having 1 to 5 C atoms, Phe denotes 1 ,4-phenylene, k-| , k ₂ and k3 each, independently of one another, denote 0 or 1 , k3 preferably denotes 1 , and k4 denotes an integer from 1 to 10.

Very particularly preferred groups P are selected from the group consisting of CH ₂ =CW ¹ -CO-O-, in particular CH ₂ =CH-CO-O-, CH ₂ =C(CH ₃ )-CO-O- and CH ₂ =CF-CO-O-, furthermore CH ₂ =CH-O-, (CH ₂ =CH) ₂ CH-O-CO-, (CH ₂ =CH) ₂ CH-

Further preferred polymerisable groups P are selected from the group consisting of vinyloxy, acrylate, methacrylate, fluoroacrylate, chloroacrylate, oxetane and epoxide, most preferably from acrylate and methacrylate.

If Sp is different from a single bond, it is preferably of the formula Sp"-X", so that the respective radical P-Sp- conforms to the formula P-Sp"-X"-, wherein

Sp" denotes alkylene having 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 12, C atoms, which is optionally mono- or polysubstituted by F, Cl, Br, I or CN and in which, in addition, one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by -O-, -S-, -NH-, -N(RO)-, -Si(R^ROO). -CO-, -CO-O-, -O-CO-, -O-CO-O-, -S-CO-, -CO-S-, -N(R ⁰⁰ )-CO-O-, -O-CO-N(R ⁰ )-, -N(R°)-CO-N(R ⁰⁰ )-, -CH=CH- or -C=C- in such a way that O and/or S atoms are not linked directly to one another,

X" denotes -O-, -S-, -CO-, -CO-O-, -O-CO-, -O-CO-O-, -CO-N(R ⁰ )-, -N(R°)-CO-, -N(R°)-CO-N(R ⁰⁰ )-, -OCH ₂ -, -CH ₂ O-, -SCH ₂ -, -CH ₂ S-, -CF ₂ O-, -OCF ₂ -, -CF ₂ S-, -SCF ₂ -, -CF ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CF ₂ -, -CF ₂ CF ₂ -, -CH=N-, -N=CH-, -N=N-, -CH=CR ⁰ -, -CY ² =CY ³ -, -C=C-, -CH=CH-CO-O-, -O-CO-CH=CH- or a single bond,

RO and R^O each, independently of one another, denote H or alkyl having 1 to 20 C atoms, and

Y ² and Y ³ each, independently of one another, denote H, F, Cl or CN.

X" is preferably -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -OCO-, -O-COO-, -CO-NR ⁰ -, -NR°- CO-, -NRO-CO-NROO- or a single bond.

Typical spacer groups Sp and -Sp"-X"- are, for example, -(CH ₂ )pi-, -(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _{q 1} -CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CH ₂ -S-CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ CH ₂ -NH-CH ₂ CH ₂ - or -(SiROROO-O)pi-, in which p1 is an integer from 1 to 12, q1 is an integer from 1 to 3, and RO and R^O have the meanings indicated in Formula M above.

Particularly preferred groups Sp and -Sp”-X”- are -(CH2)pi-, -(CH2)pi-O-, -(CH2)pi-O-CO-, -(CH2)pi-CO-O-, -(CH2)pi-O-CO-O-, in which p1 and q1 have the meanings indicated above.

Particularly preferred groups Sp" are, in each case straight-chain, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene, dodecylene, octadecylene, ethyleneoxyethylene, methyleneoxybutylene, ethylenethioethylene, ethylene-N-methyliminoethylene, 1-methylalkylene, ethenylene, propenylene and butenylene.

For the production of PSA displays, the polymerisable compounds contained in the liquid-crystalline medium are polymerised or crosslinked (if one compound contains two or more polymerisable groups) by in-situ polymerisation in the liquid-crystalline medium between the substrates of the LC display, optionally while a voltage is applied to the electrodes.

The structure of the PSA displays according to the invention corresponds to the usual geometry for PSA displays, as described in the prior art cited at the outset. Geometries without protrusions are preferred, in particular those in which, in addition, the electrode on the colour filter side is unstructured and only the electrode on the TFT side has slots. Particularly suitable and preferred electrode structures for PS-VA displays are described, for example, in US 2006/0066793 A1.

The combination of compounds of the preferred embodiments mentioned above with the polymerised compounds described above causes low threshold voltages, low rotational viscosities and very good low-temperature stabilities in the liquidcrystalline media according to the invention at the same time as constantly high clearing points and high VHR values.

The use of liquid-crystalline media containing polymerisable compounds allows the rapid establishment of a particularly low pretilt angle in PSA displays. In particular, the liquid-crystalline media exhibit significantly shortened response times, in particular also the grey-shade response times, in PSA displays compared with the media from the prior art.

Preference is generally given to liquid-crystalline media which have a nematic liquid-crystalline phase, and preferably have no chiral liquid crystal phase.

The invention also relates to the use of a liquid-crystalline medium according to the present invention as described above and below for electro-optical purposes, in particular for the use is in shutter glasses, for 3D applications, in TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS, PS-FFS, positive VA and positive PS-VA displays, and to electro-optical displays, in particular of the aforementioned types, containing a liquid-crystalline medium according to the present invention as described above and below, in particular a TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS, PS-FFS, positive VA (vertically aligned) or positive PS-VA display.

The invention also relates to electro-optical displays, such as, for example, STN or MLC displays, having two plane-parallel outer plates, which, together with a frame, form a cell, integrated non-linear elements for switching individual pixels on the outer plates, and a nematic liquid-crystal medium having positive dielectric anisotropy and high specific resistance located in the cell, wherein the a nematic liquid-crystal medium is a liquid-crystalline medium according to the present invention as described above and below.

The liquid-crystalline media according to the invention enable a significant broadening of the available parameter latitude. The achievable combinations of clearing point, viscosity at low temperature, thermal and UV stability and high optical anisotropy are far superior to previous materials from the prior art.

In particular, the combination of compounds of Formula I with compounds of Formula Y and/or B, and additionally with compounds selected from Formulae II- XXXV or their sub-formulae, leads to liquid-crystalline media which show a moderate positive dielectric anisotropy and at the same time an increased dielectric constant s± perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the liquid-crystalline molecules, while maintaining a low rotational viscosity and a low value of the ratio Y1 / ki 1. This enables liquid-crystalline displays, especially of the FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS and IPS mode, with high brightness and transmission and low response times.

The liquid-crystalline media according to the invention are suitable for mobile applications and TFT applications, such as, for example, mobile telephones and PDAs. Furthermore, the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention are particularly suitably for use in FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS and IPS displays based on dielectrically positive liquid crystals.

The liquid-crystalline media according to the invention, while retaining the nematic phase down to -20 °C and preferably down to -30 °C, particularly preferably down to -40 °C, and the clearing point > 75 °C, preferably > 80 °C, at the same time allow rotational viscosities y-| of < 110 mPa-s, particularly preferably < 100 mPa-s, to be achieved, enabling excellent MLC displays having fast response times to be achieved. The rotational viscosities are determined at 20 °C.

The dielectric anisotropy As of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention at 20 °C and 1 kHz is preferably > +1.5, very preferably from +2 to +6.

The birefringence An of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention at 20 °C is preferably from 0.08 to 0.20, very preferably from 0.1 to 0.15.

The rotational viscosity y-| of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention is preferably < 100 mPa s, more preferably < 90 mPa s, very preferably

< 70 mPa s.

The ratio y^ / k-| 1 (wherein y-| is the rotational viscosity y-| and k-| 1 is the elastic constant for splay deformation) of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention is preferably < 4.6 mPa s/pN, very preferably < 4.2 mPa s/pN, most preferably < 4.0 mPa s/pN.

The nematic phase range of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention preferably has a width of at least 90 °C, more preferably of at least 100 °C, in particular at least 110 °C. This range preferably extends at least from -25 °C to +80 °C. It goes without saying that, through a suitable choice of the components of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention, it is also possible for higher clearing points (for example above 100 °C) to be achieved at higher threshold voltages or lower clearing points to be achieved at lower threshold voltages with retention of the other advantageous properties. At viscosities correspondingly increased only slightly, it is likewise possible to obtain liquid-crystalline media having a higher As and thus low thresholds. The MLC displays according to the invention preferably operate at the first Gooch and Tarry transmission minimum [C.H. Gooch and H.A. Tarry, Electron. Lett. 10, 2-4, 1974; C.H. Gooch and H.A. Tarry, Appl. Phys., Vol. 8, 1575-1584, 1975], where, besides particularly favourable electro-optical properties, such as, for example, high steepness of the characteristic line and low angle dependence of the contrast (German patent 30 22 818), lower dielectric anisotropy is sufficient at the same threshold voltage as in an analogous display at the second minimum. This enables significantly higher specific resistance values to be achieved using the mixtures according to the invention at the first minimum than in the case of liquid-crystalline media comprising cyano compounds. Through a suitable choice of the individual components and their proportions by weight, the person skilled in the art is able to set the birefringence necessary for a pre-specified layer thickness of the MLC display using simple routine methods.

Measurements of the voltage holding ratio (HR) [S. Matsumoto et al., Liquid Crystals 5, 1320 (1989); K. Niwa et al., Proc. SID Conference, San Francisco, June 1984, p. 304 (1984); G. Weber et al., Liquid Crystals 5, 1381 (1989)] have shown that liquid-crystalline media according to the invention comprising compounds of the Formulae ST-1 , ST-2, RV, IA and IB exhibit a significantly smaller decrease in the HR on UV exposure than analogous mixtures comprising cyanophenylcyclohexanes of the formula or esters of the formula instead of the compounds of the Formulae I

ST-1 , ST-2, RV, I A and IB. The light stability and UV stability of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention are considerably better, i.e. they exhibit a significantly smaller decrease in the HR on exposure to light, heat or UV.

The construction of the MLC display according to the invention from polarisers, electrode base plates and surface-treated electrodes corresponds to the usual design for displays of this type. The term usual design is broadly drawn here and also encompasses all derivatives and modifications of the MLC display, in particular including matrix display elements based on poly-Si TFTs or MIM.

A significant difference between the displays according to the invention and the hitherto conventional displays based on the twisted nematic cell consists, however, in the choice of the liquid-crystal parameters of the liquid-crystal layer.

The liquid-crystalline media which can be used in accordance with the invention are prepared in a manner conventional per se, for example by mixing one or more compounds of Claim 1 with one or more compounds of the Formulae ll-XXXV or with further liquid-crystalline compounds and/or additives. In general, the desired amount of the components used in lesser amount is dissolved in the components making up the principal constituent, advantageously at elevated temperature. It is also possible to mix solutions of the components in an organic solvent, for example in acetone, chloroform or methanol, and to remove the solvent again, for example by distillation, after thorough mixing.

The LC media may also comprise further additives known to the person skilled in the art and described in the literature, such as, for example, polymerisation initiators, inhibitors, surface-active substances, light stabilisers, antioxidants, e.g. BHT, TEMPOL, microparticles, free-radical scavengers, nanoparticles, etc. For example, 0-15% of pleochroic dyes or chiral dopants or initiators like Irgacure® 651 or Irgacure® 907 can be added. Suitable stabilisers and dopants are mentioned below in Tables C and D.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the LC media contain one or more further stabilisers, preferably selected from the group consisting of the following formulae wherein n is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 3.

Very preferred stabilisers are selected from the group consisting of the following formulae

In a preferred embodiment the LC medium comprises one or more stabilisers selected from the group consisting of Formulae ST1-1 , ST2-1. In a preferred embodiment the LC medium comprises one or more stabilisers selected from Table D.

Preferably the proportion of stabilisers, like those of Formula ST1-ST3, in the LC medium is from 10 to 2000 ppm, very preferably from 30 to 1000 ppm.

In another preferred embodiment the LC medium according to the present invention contains a self-aligning (SA) additive, preferably in a concentration of 0.1 to 2.5 %. An LC medium according to this preferred embodiment is especially suitable for use in polymer stabilised SA-FFS, SA-HB-FFS or SA-XB-FFS displays.

In a preferred embodiment the SA-FFS, SA-HB-FFS or SA-XB-FFS display according to the present invention does not contain a polyimide alignment layer. In another preferred embodiment the SA-FFS, SA-HB-FFS or SA-XB-FFS display according to preferred embodiment contains a polyimide alignment layer.

Preferred SA additives for use in this preferred embodiment are selected from compounds comprising a mesogenic group and a straight-chain or branched alkyl side chain that is terminated with one or more polar anchor groups selected from hydroxy, carboxy, amino or thiol groups.

Further preferred SA additives contain one or more polymerisable groups which are attached, optionally via spacer groups, to the mesogenic group. These polymerisable SA additives can be polymerised in the LC medium under similar conditions as applied for the RMs in the PSA process.

Suitable SA additives to induce homeotropic alignment, especially for use in SA-VA mode displays, are disclosed for example in US 2013/0182202 A1, US 2014/0838581 A1, US 2015/0166890 A 1 and US 2015/0252265 A1.

In another preferred embodiment an LC medium or a polymer stabilised SA-FFS, SA-HB-FFS or SA-XB-FFS display according to the present invention contains one or more self-aligning additives selected from Table F below.

Furthermore, it is possible to add to the liquid-crystalline media, for example, 0 to 15% by weight of pleochroic dyes, furthermore nanoparticles, conductive salts, preferably ethyldimethyldodecylammonium 4-hexoxybenzoate, tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate or complex salts of crown ethers (cf. , for example, Haller et al., Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 24, 249-258 (1973)), for improving the conductivity, or substances for modifying the dielectric anisotropy, the viscosity and/or the alignment of the nematic phases. Substances of this type are described, for example, in DE-A 22 09 127, 22 40 864, 23 21 632, 23 38 281 , 24 50 088, 26 37 430 and 28 53 728.

For the present invention and in the following examples, the structures of the liquidcrystal compounds are indicated by means of acronyms, with the transformation into chemical formulae taking place in accordance with Tables A to C below. All radicals C _m H _{2m+ 1} , C _n H _2n +i , and C| H ₂ |+ 1 or C _m H _2m.1 , C _n H _2n.1 and C| H ₂ |_ ! are straight-chain alkyl radicals or alkylene radicals, in each case having n, m and I C atoms respectively. Preferably n, m and I are independently of each other 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. Table A shows the codes for the ring elements of the nuclei of the compound, Table B lists the bridging units, and Table C lists the meanings of the symbols for the left- and right-hand end groups of the molecules. The acronyms are composed of the codes for the ring elements with optional linking groups, followed by a first hyphen and the codes for the left-hand end group, and a second hyphen and the codes for the right-hand end group. Table D shows illustrative structures of compounds together with their respective abbreviations.

in which n and m are each integers, and the three dots are placeholders for other abbreviations from this table.

The following abbreviations are used:

(n, m, k and I are, independently of one another, each an integer, preferably 1 to 9 preferably 1 to 7, k and I possibly may be also 0 and preferably are 0 to 4, more preferably 0 or 2 and most preferably 2, n preferably is 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, in the combination “-nO-” it preferably is 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably 2 or 4, m preferably is 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, in the combination “-Om” it preferably is 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably 2 or 4. The combination “-IVm” preferably is “2V1”.)

Preferred mixture components are shown in Tables D and E.

Table E

In the following formulae, n and m each, independently of one another, denote 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, in particular 2, 3, 5, furthermore 0, 4, 6.

Particular preference is given to liquid-crystalline media which, besides the compounds of the Formulae IA, HA, IB and IIB, comprise at least one, two, three, four or more compounds from Table E.

Table F

Table F indicates possible dopants which are generally added to the liquidcrystalline media according to the invention. The liquid-crystalline media preferably comprise 0-10% by weight, in particular 0.01-5% by weight and particularly preferably 0.01-3% by weight of dopants. Table G

Stabilisers, which can additionally be added, for example, to the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention in amounts of 0-10% by weight, are mentioned below.

Table H

Table H shows illustrative reactive mesogenic compounds (RMs) which can be used in the liquid-crystalline media in accordance with the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention comprise one or more polymerisable compounds, preferably selected from the polymerisable compounds of the Formulae RM-1 to RM-143. Of these, compounds RM-1, RM-4, RM-8, RM-17, RM-19, RM-35, RM-37, RM-39, RM-40, RM-41 , RM- 48, RM-52, RM-54, RM-57, RM-64, RM-74, RM-76, RM-88, RM-102, RM-103, RM- 109, RM-117, RM-120, RM-121 and RM-122 are particularly preferred.

Table I

Table I shows self-alignment additives for vertical alignment which can be used in LC media for SA-FFS, SA-HB-FFS and SA-XB-FFS displays according to the present invention:

In a preferred embodiment, the LC media, SA-FFS, SA-HB-FFS and SA-XB-FFS displays according to the present invention comprise one or more SA additives selected from Formulae SA-1 to SA-34, preferably from Formulae SA-14 to SA-34, very preferably from Formulae SA-20 to SA-28, most preferably of Formula SA-20, in combination with one or more RMs.

The following mixture examples are intended to explain the invention without limiting it.

Above and below, percentage data denote per cent by weight. All temperatures are indicated in degrees Celsius, m.p. denotes melting point, cl.p. = clearing point. Furthermore, C = crystalline state, N = nematic phase, S = smectic phase and I = isotropic phase. The data between these symbols represent the transition temperatures. Furthermore, the following symbols are used

VQ Freedericks threshold voltage, capacitive [V] at 20°C,

V 1 o voltage [V] for 10% transmission, n _e extraordinary refractive index measured at 20°C and 589 nm, n ₀ ordinary refractive index measured at 20°C and 589 nm, An optical anisotropy measured at 20°C and 589 nm, sj_ dielectric susceptibility (or "dielectric constant") perpendicular to the to the longitudinal axes of the molecules at 20°C and 1 kHz, s 1 1 dielectric susceptibility (or "dielectric constant") parallel to the to the longitudinal axes of the molecules at 20°C and 1 kHz,

As dielectric anisotropy at 20°C and 1 kHz, cl.p. or T(N,I) clearing point [°C], v flow viscosity measured at 20°C

71 rotational viscosity measured at 20°C [mPa-s], ki 1 elastic constant, "splay" deformation at 20°C [pN], k22 elastic constant, "twist" deformation at 20°C [pN], k33 elastic constant, "bend" deformation at 20°C [pN], and

LTS low- temperature stability of the phase [h] in bulk

VHR voltage holding ratio.

All physical properties are determined in accordance with "Merck Liquid Crystals, Physical Properties of Liquid Crystals", status Nov. 1997, Merck KGaA, Germany, and apply for a temperature of 20°C, unless explicitly indicated otherwise.

Examples

Base mixture M1

A nematic LC mixture is formulated as follows: Mixture Example 1 (stabilised with compound of Formula H-3-6)

A nematic LC mixture according to the invention is formulated as follows:

Addition of 10 ppm of the compound of Formula H-3-6 significantly improves the VHR-ioo after UV exposure compared with the non-stabilised mixture M1.

Base mixture M2

A nematic LC mixture is formulated as follows:

Mixture Example 2 (stabilised with compound of Formula H-3-6)

A nematic LC mixture according to the invention is formulated as follows: Addition of 100 ppm of the compound of Formula H-3-6 significantly improves the VHR100 after UV exposure compared with the non-stabilised mixture M2.

Base mixture M3

A nematic LC mixture is formulated as follows: Mixture Example 3 (stabilised with compound of Formula H-3-5)

A nematic LC mixture according to the invention is formulated as follows:

Addition of 10 ppm of the compound of Formula H-3-5 significantly improves the VHR-ioo after UV exposure compared with the non-stabilised mixture M3.

Base mixture M4

A nematic LC mixture is formulated as follows: Mixture Example 4 (stabilised with compound of Formula H-3-1)

A nematic LC mixture according to the invention is formulated as follows:

Addition of 100 ppm of the compound of Formula H-3-1 significantly improves the VHR-ioo after UV exposure compared with the non-stabilised mixture M4.