Claims
- 1. A carboxylate compound represented by the following formula (A): ##STR73## wherein R is a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 3-20 carbon atoms and halogenated alkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, X and Y each represent --COO--, A and B each independently, represent a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR74## and R* is an optically active group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms containing at least one asymmetric carbon atom, wherein hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms of said optically active group may be substituted with halogen atoms, and m and n are each, independently, an integer of from 0 to 2, with the proviso that both m and n are not both 0 at the same time.
- 2. The carboxylate compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxy group of 7-16 carbon atoms, X and Y are the same groups of --coo--, A and B independently represent a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR75## R* is an optically active alkyl or haloalkyl group of 5-9 carbon atoms which may be substituted with --COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5, m is an integer of 0-2, and n is an integer of 0 or 1, with the proviso that both m and n do not become 0 at the same time.
- 3. The carboxylate compound as claimed in claim 2 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxy group of 7-12 carbon atoms and R* is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR76##
- 4. A liquid crystal compound which is a carboxylate compound represented by the above-mentioned following formula (A): ##STR77## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, linear alkoxy of 3-20 carbon atoms and halogenated linear alkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, X and Y each represent --COO--, A and B independently represent a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR78## R* is an optically active group of 4-20 carbon atoms having at least one asymmetric carbon atom, wherein hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms of said optically active group can be substituted with halogen atoms, and m and n are each, independently, 0, 1, or 2, with the proviso that m and n are not both 0.
- 5. The liquid crystal compound of claim 4 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxy group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, A and B each, independently, represent a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR79## R* is an optically active alkyl or haloalkyl group of 5 to 9 carbon atoms which may be substituted with --COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5, m is an integer of 1-2, and n is 0 or 1, with the proviso that both m and n are not both 0 at the same time.
- 6. The liquid crystal compound according to claim 5 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxy group of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, A and B, each independently, represent a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR80## and R* is a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR81##
- 7. A liquid crystal composition comprising at least one carboxylate compound represented by the following formula ##STR82## ##STR83## wherein R is a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 3 to 20 carbon atoms and halogenated alkyl of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, X and Y each represent --COO--, A and B each, independently, represent a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR84## and R* is an optically active group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms containing at least one asymmetric carbon atoms, wherein hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms of said optically active group may be substituted with halogen atoms, and m and n are each an integer of 0 to 2, with the proviso that m and n are not both 0, in an amount of 1 to 99 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the composition, and at least one additional liquid crystal compound.
- 8. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 7 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, X and Y each represent --COO--, A and B each, independently, represent a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR85## R* is an optically active alkyl or haloalkyl group of 5 to 9 carbon atoms which may be substituted with --COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5, m is an integer of 0 to 2, and n is 0 or 1, with the proviso that both m and n are not both 0 at the same time.
- 9. A liquid crystal element comprising two substrates which face each other and have a gap therebetween, said gap being filled with a liquid crystal material comprising at least one carboxylate compound represented by the formula (A) as set forth in claim 4.
- 10. The liquid crystal element according to claim 9 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxy group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, A and B each, independently, represent a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR86## and R* is an optically active alkyl or haloalkyl group of 5 to 9 carbon atoms which may be substituted with --COO--C.sub.2 H.sub.5.
- 11. The liquid crystal element according to claim 10 wherein R is an alkyl or alkoxy group of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and R* is a member selected from the group consisting of ##STR87##
- 12. The liquid crystal element according to claim 9 wherein the liquid crystal material is a liquid crystal composition containing 1-99% by weight of the at least one carboxylate compound represented by the formula (A).
- 13. A process for the preparation of a liquid crystal element comprising a cell composed of two substrates which face each other and have a gap therebetween, and said gap being filled with a liquid crystal material, which comprises forming the cell by providing an orientation controlling film on the inner surface of at least one of said two substrates, filling the gap with the liquid crystal material comprising the liquid crystal compound of formula (A) according to claim 4, and heating said liquid crystal material contained in the cell to a temperature not lower than the temperature at which said material exhibits an isotropic liquid, followed by cooling to a temperature not higher than the temperature at which said material exhibits a liquid crystal.
- 14. The liquid crystal compound according to claim 4 which is selected form the group consisting of ##STR88##
- 15. The liquid crystal composition as claimed in claim 8 comprising the at least one carboxylate compound represented by the above-mentioned formula [A] wherein R is an alkyl group of 7-12 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group of 7-12 carbon atoms and R* is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR89##
- 16. The liquid crystal element as claimed in claim 9 wherein an orientation controlling film is provided on the inner surface of at least one substrate.
- 17. The liquid crystal element as claimed in claim 16 wherein the orientation controlling film is an orientation controlling film that has been subjected to orientation treatment.
- 18. The process for the preparation of a liquid crystal element as claimed in claim 13 wherein the liquid crystal material is cooled at a cooling rate of not higher than 2.degree. C./min from a temperature higher than the temperature at which said crystal material exhibits an isotropic liquid to a temperature lower than the temperature at which said material exhibits a liquid crystal.
- 19. The process for the preparation of a liquid crystal element as claimed in claim 13 wherein the orientation controlling film is an orientation controlling film subjected to orientation treatment.
- 20. A display unit comprising the liquid crystal element as set forth in any one of claims 9, 16, 17, 10, 11 or 12.
- 21. A liquid crystal display device comprising the liquid crystal element as set forth in any one of claims 9, 16, 17, 10 or 11.
- 22. An electrooptical display device comprising the liquid crystal element as claimed in any one of claims 9, 16, 17, 10 or 11.
- 23. A light modulation element comprising the liquid crystal element as claimed in any one of claims 9, 16, 17, 10 or 11.
- 24. The liquid crystal compound of claim 4 wherein in formula [A] the optically active group R* is ##STR90##
- 25. The liquid crystal compound of claim 4 wherein R* is ##STR91##
- 26. The liquid crystal compound of claim 6 wherein in the compound of formula (A) R is an alkoxy group of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, m and n are each 1, and R* is ##STR92##
- 27. The liquid crystal compound of claim 26 wherein A and B are each ##STR93##
Priority Claims (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1-318456 |
Dec 1989 |
JPX |
|
2-43533 |
Feb 1990 |
JPX |
|
2-43534 |
Feb 1990 |
JPX |
|
2-166393 |
Jun 1990 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 07/623,557, filed Dec. 7, 1990.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0205340 |
Dec 1986 |
EPX |
0341922 |
Nov 1989 |
EPX |
56-46855 |
Apr 1981 |
JPX |
56-108740 |
Aug 1981 |
JPX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
623557 |
Dec 1990 |
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