IMIDE COMPOUND AND LIQUID CRYSTAL ORIENTING AGENT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a new imide compound, represented by a specific formula and useful as a constituent component of a liquid crystal orienting agent, capable of manifesting good orienting characteristics and forming a liquid crystal oriented film excellent in uniformity of the film thickness and good in coating characteristics. SOLUTION: This imide compound has a structure of formula I R<1> is a tetravalent organic group of formula II, III or IV [R<3> to R<6> are each H or a 1-6C hydrocarbon; R<7> and R<8> are each a monovalent organic group; (a) is 0-4]; R<2> is a bivalent organic group; (m) is 1-3}. Furthermore, the compound of formula I and a polyimide having a recurring unit of formula V (R<9> is a tetravalent organic group; R<10> is a bivalent organic group) are preferably contained to provide the liquid crystal orienting agent and the compound of formula I is preferably synthesized by reacting, e.g. a tetracarboxylic dianhydride of formula VI with a diamine compound of the formula H2 N-R<2> -NH2 and then cyclodehydrating the resultant amic acid.