Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection apparatus, liquid ejection method, dispensing apparatus, and compound introduction apparatus capable of inhibiting contamination of a liquid after being ejected. The liquid ejection apparatus has an ejection unit having an ejection part and an ejection energy generation element that ejects a liquid from the ejection part by using a principle of inkjet ejection into an internal space in a storage part capable of storing the ejected liquid. When ejecting the liquid, the ejection unit covers an opening portion of the storage part to thereby screen the internal space in the storage part from an external space.

Abstract: This invention provides novel ester compounds represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups and may be the same or not, A and B are selected from a single bond and --COO--, X is selected from ##STR2## optically active bodies thereof and liquid crystal compositions containing at least one of these compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel alkanoyl ester compound represented by general formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein A is of --, --O--, ##STR2## B is ##STR3## l and m are 1 or 2 provided that both are not simultaneously 2, k and n are an integer of 1 or more, respectively, provided that k>n, and R is an alkyl group), a liquid crystal composition containing this compound, a novel alkanoylphenyl compound or a novel alkanoylbiphenyl compound as an intermediate for the production of the above compound, and a method of producing the same. These novel alkanoyl ester compounds are excellent in the stability against light and the like and can take a liquid crystal state at a wide temperature range. Particularly, these compounds form liquid crystals of ferroelectricity having a large spontaneous polarization and a fast response rate by introducing an optically active group into the compound, so that they develop a very excellent effect as a starting material for optoelectronics and its related elements.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel halogen-containing ester compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R is an alkyl group, A is selected from a single bond, --O--, --COO-- and --CO--, both of X and Y are halogen atoms or either one of X and Y is a halogen atom and the other is a hydrogen atom, each of m and n is 0 or 1, m+n=0 or 1, each of k and l is an integer of 1 or more, provide k<l), a liquid crystal composition and a light switching element each containing the above compound as well as a novel fluorophenol compound represented by the following general formula (II): ##STR2## (wherein each of k and l is an integer of 1 or more, provided k<l) as an intermediate for the synthesis of the above ester compound and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: This invention provides novel biphenyl compounds represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R is an alkyl group, A is selected from the single bond, --COO--, --OCO--, --OCOO-- and --CO--, and each of m and n is an integer of 1 or more, provided m<n), optically active bodies thereof, liquid crystal compositions containing at least one of these compounds, light switching elements comprising at least one of the above compounds as a constituent element, and a method of producing the compound.