Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing optically active compounds by a biochemical method in which specific compounds having hydroxyl groups are reacted with esters in the presence of hydrolases. The compounds have the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is selected from halogen atoms and a cyano group. Y is selected from the group constituting substituted phenyl groups, halogen atoms, cyano, trifluoromethyl and amino groups and alkylamino and alkyloxycarbonyl groups in which alkyl groups have 1-20 carbon atoms. R is an alkylene group having 1-20 carbon atoms and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing optically active compounds by a biochemical method in which specific compounds having hydroxyl groups are reacted with esters in the presence of enzymes. The compounds have the following general formula. ##STR1## wherein Y is selected from the group consisting halogen atoms, alkyl groups having 1-3 carbon atoms, cyano groups, and trifluoromethyl groups, W is selected from the group consisting substituted phenyl groups, and halogen atoms, cyano, trifluoromethyl and amino groups and alkylamino and alkyloxycarbonyl groups in which alkyl groups have 1-20 carbon atoms, R is methylene and n is 0 or 1.The enzymes having ability of transesterification reaction is preferably lipase, lipoprotein lipase, esterase and so on, and micro-organisms can be used in the above process.

Abstract: An optically active compound having characteristics necessary for realizing liquid crystal compositions provided with suitable characteristics, particularly a negative temperature characteristic and a very high twistability, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound are provided, which optically active compound is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are 1-20 C alkyl or alkoxy or H; l, m and n are 0 or 1; X is F, Cl, Br or CN; and ##STR2## each independently represent ##STR3## wherein Y is H, halogen or CN.

Abstract: The optically active compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl or an alkyloxy group having a carbon number of 1-18, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1-18, and A is a biphenyl group or a biphenyl group having a halogen atom or a cyano group are provided.The optically active compounds are useful for liquid crystal elements, especially for components of ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures inducing high value of spontaneous polarization.

Abstract: The present invention provides optically active compounds and a process for producing the optically active compounds by a biochemical method in which specific compounds having hydroxyl or acyloxy groups are reacted with esters in the presence of hydrolase. The compounds have the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are selected from alkyl groups having 1-4 carbon atoms and phenyl groups, X is selected from a hydrogen atom and ##STR2## R is selected from alkyl groups having 1-20 carbon atoms, and C* indicates an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: A novel phenylprimidinecarboxylate derivative which, when used as a component of liquid crystal compositions, can raise the clearing point of the mesomorphic range of the liquid crystal compositions and/or increase the dielectric anisotrophy value of the compositions, and a liquid crystal compositions containing the derivative are provided, which derivative is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1 represents an alkyl or alkoxy each of 1-10 C; X.sup.2 represents a 4-substituted phenyl having an alkyl, of 1-10 C, F, Cl, Br or --CN at 4-position or a 3,4-disubstituted phenyl having f, Cl, Br or CN at 4-position and F, Cl or Br at 3-position; and either one of L or M represents .dbd.N-- and the other represents --C.dbd..

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, alkoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, heteroarylalkyl, phenylalkenyl, or --T--(Y).sub.p --R.sub.6 (wherein T is single bond or alkylene, Y is oxygen, sulfur or carbonyl, R.sub.6 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, naphthyl, or diphenylmethyl, and p is 0 or 1, provided that when T is single bond, p is 0); R.sub.1 is halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyloxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, alkoxy interrupted by oxygen or carbonyl, alkylthio, amino, monosubstituted amino, or a substituted alkoxy; R.sub.2 is hydrogen; R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkanoylamino, or nitro; R.sub.4 is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, sulfamoyl, alkylsulfamoyl, or dialkylsulfamoyl; or any two adjacent groups of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may combine to form alkylenedioxy, and the remaining two groups are each hydrogen; R.sub.5 is hydrogen or alkyl; X is alkylene; m and n are each 1 or 2; provided that at least one of the groups R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.

Abstract: The present invention provided optically active alcohols represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 indicates an alkyl or alkyloxy group having a carbon number of 1-18, and A indicates a phenyl or a biphenyl group; or a phenyl or biphenyl group having a halogen atom or a cyano group. The alcohols are intermediates of optically active materials useful for components of liquid crystal materials for liquid crystal display elements having quick response.

Abstract: A novel compound which is able to improve various characteristics of display element by using it as a component for liquid crystal compositions, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which compound isa 2-pyrimidinyl-1, 3-dioxane compound expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein Y.sub.1 represents --R, ##STR2## SCH.sub.3 or --CN; Y.sub.2, --R, ##STR3## R, an alkyl group of 1-12 C and one or two CH.sub.2 groups therein can be replaced by oxygen atom; X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 each independently are choiced from H, F, Cl, Br or --CN; and X.sub.5, F, Cl, Br, --CN or an alkyl group of 1-12 C and one or two CH.sub.2 groups therein can be replaced by oxygen atom.

Abstract: Novel compounds which, when used as a components of liquid crystal compositions, have good compatibility with other components and also have large values of dielectric anisotropy and optical anisotropy, and liquid crystal compositions containing the same are provided, which compounds are 4'-cyano-3'-halogenophenyl 4-(5-substituted-pyrimidin-2-yl)benzoate expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms or --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.p --CH.sub.3 wherein m and p each represent an integer of 0 to 8 and m+p.ltoreq.8, and X represents a halogen atom.

Abstract: A novel pyrimidine derivative which, when used as a component of a liquid crystal composition, is useful for driving a liquid crystal cell containing the composition at low voltages, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which pyrimidine derivative is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein n represents an integer of 0 or 1; R represents an alkyl or alkoxy group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 each represent hydrogen atom, F, Cl or Br as halogeno group, cyano group or trifluoromethyl group and at least one of X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 is trifluoromethyl group.

Abstract: A compound which, when added as a component to other components, raises the N-I point of the resulting liquid crystal composition and nevertheless affords only a relatively small rise in viscosity of the composition, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which compound is a 1-(trans-4'-alkylcyclohexyl)-2-4"-[trans-4"'-(trans-4""-alkylcyclohexyl)cy clohexylphenyl]ethane expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal compound useful as a component of liquid crystal compositions and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which compound is a phenoxypropanol ester derivative expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each of 1 to 15 carbon atoms, F atom, Cl atom or CN group, but either one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.

Abstract: A novel 1,4-dipyrimidinylbenzene derivative which is useful as a component constituting a liquid crystal composition which is superior in properties and also physically and chemically stable, as a material for liquid crystal display elements, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which derivative is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, methylthio group or cyano group and Y represents an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Ester compounds having a pyrimidine ring, using as their raw material, substituted pyrimidinols in place of expensive p-substituted phenols, and also useful as a material for liquid crystal display elements are provided which esters are expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl or alkoxy group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms; X represents a halogen atom of F, Cl or Br, cyano group or an alkyl or alkoxy group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms; ##STR2## represents ##STR3## and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: A novel bipyrimidinyl derivative which is superior in practical properties and useful as a high temperature liquid crystal component constituting a physically and chemically stable liquid crystal composition is provided, which bipyrimidinyl derivative is a 2,5'-disubstituted-5,2'-bipyrimidinyl expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## X represents a halogen atom of F, Cl or Br or cyano group or an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and R represents an alkyl group or an alkoxy group each having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.