Carboxylic acid ester compound, liquid crystal material, liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal element

摘要

The carboxylic acid ester compound of the invention is represented by the following formula [I]: <IMAGE> [I] wherein R is an alkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms; n is 0 or 1; at least one of A1, A2 and A3 is a group having tetralin structure, and the residual groups of A1, A2 and A3 are each independently a group having specific aromatic cyclic structure such as a phenylene group and a biphenyl group; Y1 and Y2 are each independently a group selected from the group consisting of -COO-, -CH2CH2- and -CH2O-; Q1 is a group selected from the group consisting of -CH3, -CF3, -C2H5 and -C2F5; and q is an integer of 4 to 12. This carboxylic acid ester compound may be used as an antiferroelectric liquid crystal material, and also be used as a liquid crystal composition by using other liquid crystal material in combination. A liquid crystal element which is formed by filling the carboxylic acid ester compound in a gap between two substrates opposite to each other shows excellent properties required for antiferroelectric liquid crystal elements, for example, high speed switching.