Abstract: A liquid crystal composition, comprising: at least one optically active mesomorphic compound having an asymmetric carbon atom to which a fluorine atom is directly bonded.

Abstract: An optically active mesomorphic compound represented by the formula (III) is obtained through an optically active compound represented by the formula (I) and then through a compound represented by the formula (II), respectively, shown below. ##STR1## In the above formulas, R represents a linear, branched or cyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-18 carbon atoms each capable of having a substituent, C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom, k is an integer of from 2 to 5, A is a releasable active group such as hydroxyl, l is 0 or 1, and when l is 1, m is 0, 1 or 2 and n is 0 or 1; R.sup.1 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-18 carbon atoms; ##STR2## respectively denote ##STR3## p, q and r are respectively 0 or 1 satisfying the relation of p+q+r.gtoreq.1.

Abstract: An optically active lactic acid derivative represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents a linear, branched or cyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom; l is 0 or 1; m is 1 or 2; A represents a group selected from the following groups (a) and (b):(a) hydroxyl group, halogen, benzyloxy group, phenoxy group, toluenesulfonic acid group, acetyloxy group, trifluoroacetyloxy group; ##STR2## (wherein R' is an alkyl group or alkoxy group having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, ##STR3## with proviso that when A is selected from the groups in the above group (a), l is 1 and m is 1 or 2; and when A is selected from the groups in the above group (b), m=n=1 when l is 0, or m and n are 0, 1 or 2 and m+n is 1 or 2 when l is 1, and ##STR4##

Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising a recording layer containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of azulenium salt compounds represented respectively by Formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV), and an optical recording method comprising forming pits and recording information by irradiation of a laser beam on an optical recording medium having a recording layer containing one or more of azulenium salt represented by Formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV).

Abstract: An optically active lactic acid derivative represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents a linear, branched or cyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom; l is 0 or 1; m is 1 or 2; A represents a group selected from the following groups (a) and (b):(a) hydroxyl group, halogen, benzyloxy group, phenoxy group, toluenesulfonic acid group, acetyloxy group trifluoroacetyloxy group; ##STR2## (wherein R' is an alkyl group or alkoxy group having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, ##STR3## with proviso that when A is selected from the group in the above group (a), l is 1 and m is 1 or 2; and when A is selected from the groups in the above group (b), m=n=1 when l is 0, or m and n are 0, 1 or 2 and m+n is 1 or 2 when l is 1, and ##STR4##