OPTICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCE, PRODUCTION THEREOF AND LIQUID CRYSTAL COMPOSITION CONTAINING SAME

摘要

NEW MATERIAL:A compound shown by formula (R is 1-16C alkyl; C* is asymmetric carbon; m is 0 or 1; n is 1 or 2; A is eliminable substituent group). EXAMPLE:(-)-2-Hydroxybutyronitrile. USE:Useful as an intermediate for synthesizing functional materials forming optical elements, an intermediate for synthesizing various natural optically active substances and also as a liquid crystal component and having improving effects on control of liquid crystal state and on electric field response. PREPARATION:An optically active alpha-chlorocarboxylic acid shown by formula II is reduced to give an optically active 2-chloroalcohol shown by formula III, which is then reacted with a cyanide (e.g. sodium cyanide) in a solvent such as water, alcohol, etc., at 30-100 deg.C to give an optically active 2- hydroxyalkanenitrile shown by formula IV (R1 is 1-5C alkyl) (m=0 of formula I), which is then reacted with a p-substituted benzoic acid or a p-substituted biphenylcarboxylic acid to give a compound shown by formula I wherein m=1.