Optically active biphenyl derivative, process for preparation thereof, liquid crystal composition containing the same as effective component, and liquid crystal element using the same.

摘要

Disclosed herein are a novel optically active biphenyl derivative, a process of the preparation thereof a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing the same and a liquid crystal element using the composition. The above optically active biphenyl derivatives including optically active biphenyl carboxylic acid derivative, hydroxybiphenyl derivative, alkoxybiphenylalkanol derivative and alkylbiphenylalkanol derivative have the following structural formula: <CHEM> wherein R<1> represents an alkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms, R<2> represents an alkyl group or alkoxyalkyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted with at least one halogen atom. X represents -O-, -COO- or -OCO-. m represents 0 or 1, n represents an integer of 1-6 and p represents 0 or 1. * mark represents an asymmetric carbon atom. These optically active biphenyl derivatives are useful as a ferroelectric liquid crystal material or its component having a sufficient spontaneous polarization and by which a high speed response is possible and which further exhibits a ferroelectric liquid crystal phase in a temperature region around room temperature.