Antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound and antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing the same

摘要

An antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound is represented by the following general formula (I) : <CHEM> wherein R<1> represents an alkyl group having 6 to 16 carbon atoms; R<2> represents a straight chain alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms or a branched alkyl group having 4 to 10 carbon atoms; and * means an asymmetric carbon atom; and an antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises at least one liquid crystal compound as defined above. The optically active compound of the present invention is highly miscible with a number of known antiferroelectric liquid crystal compounds and is thus capable of providing liquid crystal materials having improved temperature properties. A liquid crystal composition containing the optically active compound of the present invention is applicable to electro-optical devices with the use of antiferroelectric liquid crystals.