Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having an optically active .gamma.-lactone ring of the general formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the class consisting of ##STR2## n and e are each independently 0 or 1, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, said alkyl and alkenyl groups having each optionally one or more asymmetric carbon atoms, X and Y are each hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a cyano group, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, said alkyl and alkenyl groups having each optionally one or more asymmetric carbon atoms, and * means an asymmetric carbon atom, a liquid crystal composition containing the same and an element for opto-electronics devices comprising the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: There is provided a copper foil for printed circuits characterized by having a coating layer which contains zinc and zinc oxide, chromium oxide and nickel, and either or both of zinc and zinc oxide at least on the shiny side of a copper foil. The coating layer is formed by electroplating using a plating solution which contains either or both of zinc salt and zinc oxide, chromic salt and nickel salt. This copper foil resists discoloration upon exposure to high-temperature conditions of 180.degree. C. for 30 minutes. Resist adhesion is also good. The amounts of deposits are preferably 60 to 80 .mu.g Zn, 30 to 40 .mu.g Cr and 5 to 20 .mu.g Ni per dm.sup.2. The matt side of the copper foil may be treated to form thereon a single metal layer or alloy layer of one or more metals chosen from among Cu, Cr, Ni, Fe, Co, and Zn. The copper foil is suited for the fabrication of printed circuits with fine circuit patterns.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a pair of substrates each provided with voltage application means, an orientation control layer formed on at least one of the substrates, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal composition formed between the pair of substrates, the device being characterized in that the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises at least one compound (a) having an optically active group of the formula (I): ##STR1## and at least one compound (b) which is reverse to the compound (a) in the direction of a helical pitch induced in a nematic phase, the liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least a smectic C phase, smectic A phase and nematic phase at least 20 .mu.m in helical pitch.

Abstract: A copper foil for printed circuits has a roughened layer formed on the side of the foil to be bonded to a base, the roughened layer consisting of a number of protuberant copper electrodeposits containing chromium tungsten or both. It may also have a copper plating layer covering the roughened layer and a treatment layer covering the copper plating layer and formed of either a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, chromium, nickel, iron, cobalt, and zinc, or an alloy of two or more such metals. When necessary, the copper foil may contain an anticorrosive layer including various chromate treated layers further formed on the treatment layer. The copper foil is produced by electrolyzing a raw foil as a cathode in an acidic copper electrolytic bath at a current density close to the critical density, thereby forming the roughened layer, the electrolytic bath containing 0.001-5 g/l of chromium ion tungsten ion or both.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having an optically active .gamma.-lactone ring of the general formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the class consisting of ##STR2## n and e are each independently 0 or 1, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, said alkyl and alkenyl groups having each optionally one or more asymmetric carbon atoms, X and Y are each hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a cyano group, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, said alkyl and alkenyl groups having each optionally one or more asymmetric carbon atoms, and * means an asymmetric carbon atom, a liquid crystal composition Containing the same and an element for opto-electronics devices comprising the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: An optically active glycidyl ether, which is useful in making .gamma.-lactone containing liquid crystalline compounds, the ether having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n is 0 or 1; e is 1; R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and the symbol * is an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having an optionally active .gamma.-lactone ring of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n and e are each independently 0 or 1; R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a group of the formula: --(CO).sub.m --R.sup.4 ; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.4 is hydrogen atom or an alkyl having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and the symbol * is an asymmetric carbon atom, and an intermediate thereof, and process for the production of the same.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition including: at least one optically active compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, k represents an integer of 0 or 1, and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom; andat least one compound selected from the group consisting of: compounds of the formula (II): ##STR2## where R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, ##STR3## and ##STR4## each represents ##STR5## X represents --O--, --CO-- or a single bond, m and n are independently an integer of 0 or 1; compounds of the formula (III): ##STR6## where R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are, the same or different, a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, and p is an integer of 0 or 1;said ferroelectric liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least nematic phase, smectic A phase and smectic C phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel optically active isoxazole derivatives represented by general formula: ##STR1## which are useful as intermediates for synthesis of prostaglandin and a process for producing the same as well as novel aldehyde compounds represented by general formula: ##STR2## which are intermediates for preparing the compounds [XI] described above and a process for preparation thereof. In the compounds shown by these formulae, R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group which may have an alkoxy group or a group shown by -Ra-A-B (wherein Ra is an alkyl group; A is a hetero atom or an single bond; and B is an aromatic or hetero ring which may have a substituent(s)); and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each represents an aralkyl group, a silyl group or an acyl group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel optically active isoxazole derivatives represented by general formula: ##STR1## which are useful as intermediates for synthesis of prostaglandin and a process for producing the same as well as novel aldehyde compounds represented by general formula: ##STR2## which are intermediates for preparing the compounds [XI] described above and a process for preparation thereof. In the compounds shown by these formulae, R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group which may have an alkoxy group or a group shown by -Ra-A-B (wherein Ra is an alkyl group; A is a hetero atom or an single bond; and B is an aromatic or hetero ring which may have a substituent(s)); and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each represents an aralkyl group, a silyl group or an acyl group.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising at least one compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and each asterisk represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and at least one compound represented by the formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, the same or different, a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and each asterisk represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and liquid crystal device incorporating same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel optically active isoxazole derivatives represented by general formula: ##STR1## which are useful as intermediates for synthesis of prostaglandin and a process for producing the same as well as novel aldehyde compounds represented by general formula: ##STR2## which are intermediates for preparing the compounds [XI] described above and a process for preparation thereof. In the compounds shown by these formulae, R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group which may have an alkoxy group or a group shown by --Ra--A--B (wherein Ra is an alkyl group; A is a hetero atom or an single bond; and B is an aromatic or hetero ring which may have a substituent(s)); and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each represents an aralkyl group, a silyl group or an acyl group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel optically active isoxazole derivatives represented by general formula: ##STR1## which are useful as intermediates for synthesis of prostaglandin and a process for producing the same as well as novel aldehyde compounds represented by general formula: ##STR2## which are intermediates for preparing the compounds [XI] described above and a process for preparation thereof. In the compounds shown by these formulae, R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group which may have an alkoxy group or a group shown by --Ra--A--B (wherein Ra is an alkyl group; A is a hetero atom or an single bond; and B is an aromatic or hetero ring which may have a substituent(s)); and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each represents an aralkyl group, a silyl group or an acyl group.

Abstract: An improved ferroelectric liquid crystal device comprising a pair of substrates each provided with voltage applying means, at least one of the substrates having an orientation control layer, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer comprising specific .gamma.-lactone derivatives, which is useful as a liquid crystal shutter, liquid crystal display device or the like.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal composition comprising one or more liquid crystalline compound exhibiting a smectic C phase and at least one compound of the formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are same or different and are each a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and each C marked with * is an optically active carbon atoms, and a liquid crystal display device containing it.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having an optically active .gamma.-lactone ring of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n and e are each independently 0 or 1; R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a group of the formula: --(CO).sub.m --R.sup.4 ; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.4 is hydrogen atom or an alkyl having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and the symbol * is an asymmetric carbon atom, and an intermediate thereof, and process for the production of the same.