Abstract: An optically active compound of the general formula (1) useful as a chiral dopant and use thereof, wherein each of m and n is independently an integer of 4 to 8, A is —Ph—COO—Ph—, —Ph—Ph—COO—, —Cy—COO—Ph—, —Ph—OOC—Ph—COO—, —Ph—OOC—Cy—COO—, —Ph—OOC—Np—COO— or —Np—OOC— in which —Ph— is a 1,4-phenylene group, —Cy— is a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group and —Np— is a 2,6-naphtylene group, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. Having a helical twisting power (HTP) of at least 9 and having a property that the helical pitch induced decreases with an increase in temperature, the optically active compound of the present invention has an excellent value as a chiral dopant for a nematic liquid crystal.

Abstract: An optically active compound of the general formula (1) useful as a chiral dopant and use thereof, 1