Abstract: A fluorine-substituted compound of the following general formula (1) or (2), and a ferrielectric liquid crystal composition comprising the above compound and a specific ferrielectric liquid crystal compound, wherein, in the formula (1), each of X1 and X2 is a hydrogen atom, or one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, p is an integer of 0 to 3 and q is an integer of 1 to 3, and in the formula (2), each of X1 and x2 is a hydrogen atom, or one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, p is an integer of 1 to 3 and q is an integer of 1 to 3.

Abstract: A process for the production of R-configuration or S-configuration optically active alcohol having the formula (1),CH.sub.3 C*H(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.m OC.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 (1)wherein m is an integer of 3 to 5, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and C* is an asymmetric carbon,and the formula (2), which comprises carrying out the optical resolution of the racemic alcohol,CH.sub.3 CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.m OC.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 (2)wherein m is an integer of 3 to 5 and n is an integer of 1 to 3,into an R-configuration compound and S-configuration compound by the asymmetric trans-esterification thereof is provided in the presence of vinyl propionate as an esterifying agent and a lipase as a catalyst.

Abstract: A two-rings-containing phenyl ester compound of the following general formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a linear alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is a linear alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are both hydrogen atoms or one of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a fluorine atom and the other is a hydrogen atom, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are both hydrogen atoms or one of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a fluorine atom and the other is a hydrogen atom, and A.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, --CH.sub.3 or --CF.sub.3, provided that when A.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or --CH.sub.3, p is 0 and that when A.sup.1 is --CF.sub.3, p is 1 and q is an integer of 5 to 8, and an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing at least one of two-rings-containing phenyl ester compounds of the above general formula (1) in claim 1 and either an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound or a mixture of anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R is a linear alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, X and Y are both a hydrogen atom, or one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 0 to 5, n is an integer of 1 to 5, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. Since the liquid crystal compounds of the present invention have an anti-ferroelectric phase or a ferrielectric phase and the anti-ferroelectric phase or a ferrielectric phase has a highly practical phase sequence and wide temperature range, they are of great industrial value.

Abstract: A racemic compound of the formula (1) ##STR1## and an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of said racemic compound and one anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound of the formula (2) or a mixture of two or more compounds selected from anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds of the formula (2), ##STR2## said composition having excellent steepness of threshold, having an anti-ferroelectric phase over a broad temperature range and having the performance of a high response speed and a high contrast.

Abstract: A swallow-tail-shaped liquid crystal compound of the following general formula (1), ##STR1## wherein A is --O--, --COO-- or a single bond (--), m is an integer of 4 to 12, and n is an integer of 2 to 4.The above swallow-tail-shaped liquid crystal compound of the present invention is a novel achiral anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal and can be converted to an optically active anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal by mixing it with an optically active compound as a chiral dopant.

Abstract: Novel anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds of the formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R is a linear alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, X is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, n is an integer of 2 to 7, p is an integer of 0 to 2 and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. The above anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds have an anti-ferroelectric phase in a broad temperature range and have a low melting point, so that they can be advantageously used as a main component for a practically valuable liquid crystal material or as a component for a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A racemic compound of the formula (1) ##STR1## and an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of said racemic compound and one anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound of the formula (2) or a mixture of two or more compounds selected from anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds of the formula (2), ##STR2## said composition having excellent steepness of threshold, having an anti-ferroelectric phase in a broad temperature range and having the performance of a high response speed and a high contrast.

Abstract: A process for the production of an intermediate for a liquid crystal compound, which comprises reacting an alkyloxybiphenylcarboxylic acid with purified thionyl chloride substantially free of sulfuryl chloride, the thionyl chloride being obtained by adding phenol, etc., to thionyl chloride, heating the mixture and distilling the resultant mixture; and a process for the production of a liquid crystal compound from the above intermediate. According to the present invention, thionyl chloride can be easily purified, and a liquid crystal compound having a very high purity can be obtained by the use of the purified thionyl chloride.

Abstract: ?I! An optically active compound of the formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a linear alkyl group, each of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or one of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, each of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or one of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 3 to 10, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom,?II! an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of the optically active compound of the above formula (1) and a compound of the formula (2), ##STR2## and ?III! a ferrielectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of the optically active compound of the formula (1) and a compound of the formula (3).

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound of the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R is a linear alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms,both X and Y are hydrogen atoms or one of X and Y is a fluorine atom and the other is a hydrogen atom,A is --CF.sub.3 or --C.sub.2 F.sub.5,m is an integer of 2 to 4,n is an integer of 2 to 4, andC* is an asymmetric carbon,having a ferrielectric phase in its phase sequence, or a ferrielectric liquid crystal composition containing the liquid crystal compound of the formula (1) having a ferrielectric phase, may be injected between substrates provided with nonlinear active elements, such as thin film transistors or diodes formed on each pixel, to form an active matrix liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: An anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound of the following general formula (1), and an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing it, ##STR1## wherein R is a linear alkyl group, A is --O-- or --COO--, m is an integer of 5 or greater, n is an integer of 1 to 3, each of X and Y is independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, and C* is asymmetric carbon.

Abstract: A two-rings-containing phenyl ester compound of the following general formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a linear alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is a linear alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are both hydrogen atoms or one of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a fluorine atom and the other is a hydrogen atom, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are both hydrogen atoms or one of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a fluorine atom and the other is a hydrogen atom, and A.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, --CH.sub.3 or --CF.sub.3, provided that when A.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or --CH.sub.3, p is 0 and that when A.sup.1 is --CF.sub.3, p is t and q is an integer of 5 to 8, and an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing at least one of two-rings-containing phenyl ester compounds of the above general formula (1) in claim 1 and either an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compound or a mixture of anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds.

Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal substance represented by the following general formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R represents a straight-chain alkyl group of 6-10 carbon atoms; X represents ##STR2## when X is ##STR3## Y is any of CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3 and C.sub.2 H.sub.5, L is 0 or an integer of 5 to 8, m is 0 or 1, and n is an integer of 1 to 10; when X is ##STR4## Y is any of CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3 and C.sub.2 H.sub.5, and (1) when Y is CH.sub.3, L is 0 or an integer of 5 to 8, m is 0 or 1, and n is an integer of 1 to 10, (2) when Y is CF.sub.3, L is an integer of 5 to 8, m is 1, and n is an integer of 1 to 10 and (3) when Y is C.sub.2 H.sub.5, L is 0, m is 0, and n is an integer of 4-10.

Abstract: An antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound which is a compound represented by ##STR1## wherein R denotes a linear aliphatic alkyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms; A denotes a single bond or an oxygen atom; X and Y independently denote a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom but they are not hydrogen atoms at the same time; h and i are independently 1 or 2; m is an integer of 3 to 10; Z denotes CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or CF.sub.3 ; k is 0 or an integer of 5 to 8; l is 0 or 1; n is an integer of 1 to 6; W denotes CH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3 ; when W is CH.sub.3, p and q are both 0 and r is 8; when W is CF.sub.3, p is 5 to 8, q is 1 and r is 1 to 4; and C* denotes an asymmetric carbon atom,and a liquid crystal display device using same.

Abstract: Novel anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal compounds represented by the following general formula (I) and a liquid crystal display element wherein such a compound is used. ##STR1## Ph represents a phenylene group, R represents a straight-chain alkyl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms,X represents an oxygen atom or a single bond provided that when X is an oxygen atom, L is an integer of 5 to 8, m is 1 and n is an integer of 1 to 7, or L and m are zero (0) and n is an integer of 6 to 8, and when X is a single bond,L is an integer of 5 to 8, m is 1 and n is an integer of 1 to 7, andC* represents an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by formula (II) ##STR1## wherein R denotes a linear alkyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, X denotes a single bond or an oxygen atom, K and L are independently 1 or 2, m is an integer of 5 to 7, n is an integer of 1 to 4, and C* denotes an asymmetric carbon atom,said compound having an antiferroelectric phase.