Novel optically active benzene derivatives, process for producing the same and liquid-crystalline composition containing said derivatives as liquid-crystalline compound and light switching elements.

摘要

Disclosed are herein optically active benzene derivatives represented by the formula (I): <CHEM> (wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms; Y represents -O-, -COO- or -OCO-; m, p and s each represents a number of 0 or 1; Ar represents <CHEM> provided that when p is 1 Ar represents <CHEM> when p is 0 Ar represents <CHEM> X represents -COO- or -OCO-; Z represents <CHEM> wherein q represents a number of 1 to 5, t represents a number of 0 to 5, l represents a number of 1 or 2, u represents a number of 0 or 1 and * indicates asymmetric carbon atom; provided that when Ar represents <CHEM> Z represents <CHEM> when P is 0 Z represents <CHEM> with the proviso that when t is 0 Ar represents <CHEM> R2 represents an alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; provided that when u is 0, R2 represents an optically active alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms), preparation processes therefor, liquid crystal composition containing such benzene derivatives as liquid-crystalline compound, and a light switching element using said liquid crystal composition as liquid crystal element.