Abstract: A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: A novel dioxetane compound is provided having a cationically polymerizable oxetane group, which compound is excellent in compatibility with a liquid crystalline compound and a non-liquid crystalline compound. An optical film is also provided with excellent liquid crystal orientation retention properties and mechanical strength, produced by aligning a composition of the dioxetane compound and a cationically polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal orientation and fixing the liquid crystal orientation by polymerization. Further, a liquid crystal display device is provided with the optical film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal film with improved adhesivity to a tacky adhesive or an adhesive, formed from a liquid crystalline composition comprising a specific (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetane group and a liquid crystalline compound having an oxetane group.

Abstract: A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal film with improved adhesivity to a tacky adhesive or an adhesive, formed from a liquid crystalline composition comprising a specific (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetane group and a liquid crystalline compound having an oxetane group.

Abstract: A novel dioxetane compound is provided having a cationically polymerizable oxetane group, which compound is excellent in compatibility with a liquid crystalline compound and a non-liquid crystalline compound. An optical film is also provided with excellent liquid crystal orientation retention properties and mechanical strength, produced by aligning a composition of the dioxetane compound and a cationically polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal orientation and fixing the liquid crystal orientation by polymerization. Further, a liquid crystal display device is provided with the optical film.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystalline composition comprises a side chain liquid crystalline polymer obtained by radical-copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic compound has an optically active site and a (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetanyl group, and a cation generator and thus have no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as an epoxy group. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystalline composition provides a cholesteric liquid crystal film which is excellent in a capability of retaining the orientation after being aligned and fixed in a liquid crystal orientation and in mechanical strength without the necessity of a complicated operation such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing efficiently an optically active liquid crystalline polymer compound excellent in mechanical strength or optical characteristics at low cost, in which in that a liquid crystal polymer compound having in its main chain or side chain an ester bond is reacted with an optically active low molecular weight compound having a hydroxyl group so as to introduce the low molecular weight compound in the polymer compound as a unit having an optically active group.

Abstract: A homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film is provided with a liquid crystalline substance containing a side chain liquid crystalline compound having an oxetanyl group, as a constituent, aligned homeotropically on an alignment substrate while being in a liquid crystal state and fixed in the homeotropic alignment by allowing the oxetanyl group to react. Thus, the homeotropic alignment liquid crystal film can be stably produced without necessitating a complicated step such as light irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere and is excellent in alignment retainability after being fixed in the homeotropic alignment and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystalline composition comprises a side chain liquid crystalline polymer obtained by radical-copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic compound has an optically active site and a (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetanyl group, and a cation generator and thus have no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as an epoxy group. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystalline composition provides a cholesteric liquid crystal film which is excellent in a capability of retaining the orientation after being aligned and fixed in a liquid crystal orientation and in mechanical strength without the necessity of a complicated operation such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel compound which is suitable as the starting material of a side-chain type liquid crystalline polymeric substance having a reactive group which is excellent in reactivity upon fixation of the liquid crystal orientation structure. The novel compound is a (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetanyl group represented by the formula wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, “—L1—M—L2—” represents a mesogen portion, and n and m are each an integer of 0 to 10. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal film containing the side-chain type liquid crystalline polymeric substance and a liquid crystal display mounted with such a liquid crystal film.

Abstract: Liquid crystal films with excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength are provided.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystalline compound has the formula: Z1-(CH2)n-L1-P1-L2-P2-L3-P3-L4-(CH2)m-Z2 ??(1) wherein Z1 and Z2 are each independently a group represented by any one of formulas (2), (3) and (4) below, L1, L2, L3, and L4 each independently indicate direct bond or are a group represented by any of —O—, —O—CO—, or —CO—O—, P1 and P2 are each independently a group represented by formula (5) below, and P3 indicates direct bond or is a group represented by formula (5) below, n and m are each independently an integer of 0 to 8; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, or halogen and provides an optical film with an excellent capability of retaining the aligned liquid crystal orientation which has been fixed and in mechanical strength.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing efficiently an optically active liquid crystalline polymer compound excellent in mechanical strength or optical characteristics at low cost, in which in that a liquid crystal polymer compound having in its main chain or side chain an ester bond is reacted with an optically active low molecular weight compound having a hydroxyl group so as to introduce the low molecular weight compound in the polymer compound as a unit having an optically active group.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compositions contain no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as (meth)acrylate and epoxy group and comprise (A) an oxetane compound having an optically active portion, (B) a side chain liquid crystalline polymeric substance having an oxetanyl group, and (C) a photo cation generator and/or a thermal cation generator. The use of the composition can provide a cholesteric-aligned liquid crystal film with excellent alignment retention properties after being fixed in the liquid crystal state and mechanical strength, without employing any complicated step such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A main chain type liquid crystalline polyester comprises at least two units selected from aromatic diol units, aromtic dicarboxylic acid units, and aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid units as essential units and a structural unit containing a cationically polymerizable group selected from the group consisting of vinyloxy groups, epoxy groups, and oxetany groups in at least one of the terminal ends of the main chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel compound which is suitable as the starting material of a side-chain type liquid crystalline polymeric substance having a reactive group which is excellent in reactivity upon fixation of the liquid crystal orientation structure. The novel compound is a (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetanyl group represented by the formula wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, “-L1-M-L2-” represents a mesogen portion, and n and m are each an integer of 0 to 10. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal film containing the side-chain type liquid crystalline polymeric substance and a liquid crystal display mounted with such a liquid crystal film.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compositions contain no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as (meth)acrylate and epoxy group and comprise (A) an oxetane compound having an optically active portion, (B) a side chain liquid crystalline polymeric substance having an oxetanyl group, and (C) a photo cation generator and/or a thermal cation generator. The use of the composition can provide a cholesteric-aligned liquid crystal film with excellent alignment retention properties after being fixed in the liquid crystal state and mechanical strength, without employing any complicated step such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: Liquid crystal films with excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength are provided.