Abstract: A liquid crystal medium is described, which has a wide temperature range of a liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal medium is characterized in including a chiral dopant and a liquid crystal compound with a chlorophenyl ring and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: A new liquid crystal compound comprises two condensed and substituted rings. The ring preferably is a five-membered heterocyclic ring. The heterocyclic ring is preferably condensed with benzene ring or an aromatic six-membered heterocyclic ring. The benzene ring or the aromatic six-membered heterocyclic ring is preferably substituted with a group comprising a cyclic structure and a chain structure. The liquid crystal compound is advantageously used in preparation of a thin phase retarder, such as a wide-ranged ?/4 plate, which gives inverse wavelength distribution. The phase retarder can be easily produced according to a simple process by using the new liquid crystal compound.

Abstract: To provide optical elements such as a phase plate suitably used in a broadband range and a polarizing diffraction element excellent in diffraction efficiency, a polymerizable liquid crystal composition to be used for them, and an optical head device using them.

Abstract: The invention relates to multireactive polymerizable mesogenic compounds of formula I R1-MG-R2??I wherein R1, R2 and MG have the meaning given in claim 1, to a polymerizable mesogenic composition comprising at least two components, at least one which is a compound of formula I, to a linear or crosslinked polymer obtainable by polymerization of one or more compounds of formula I or of a polymerizable composition comprising one or more compounds of formula I and to the use of a compound of formula I, or a polymerizable composition or polymer obtainable thereof, in optical elements such as polarizers, optical retardation or compensation films, alignment layers, colour filters or holographic elements, in liquid crystal displays such as PDLC, polymer gel or polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT) displays, in adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics or liquid crystal pigments, for decorative and security applications, and for nonlinear optics or optical inf

Abstract: The present invention was realized in order to provide a liquid crystal composition which is negative in dielectric constant anisotropy and having a large absolute value and a display element, and also to provide a compound which is negative in dielectric constant anisotropy and having a large absolute value. The present invention was realized in order to provide a trifluoronaphthalene derivative expressed by the general formula (I) a liquid crystal composition containing the above compound and a display element in which the liquid crystal composition is used. The liquid crystal composition of the present invention has features in which the dielectric constant anisotropy is great in absolute value, and a liquid crystal display element in which the liquid crystal composition is used as a constituting member is useful as a liquid crystal display element based on vertical alignment mode, IPS or others.

Abstract: The invention includes compounds represented by Formula (1): wherein R represents hydrogen or methyl; A represents alkylene having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein in the alkylene, arbitrary —CH2— may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CH?CH—, —CO—, —COO— or —OCO—; X and Y each independently represent an aromatic ring or a cyclohexane ring, wherein in the rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; Z independently represents a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CON(R1)— or —N(R1)CO—, wherein R1 represents hydrogen or methyl; and m represents an integer of from 0 to 3.

Abstract: The compound provided by the present invention is a polymerizable optically active compound represented by Formula (1): wherein R1 is hydrogen, chlorine or bromine; R2 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; A1 is 1,4-phenylene, biphenyl-4,4?-diyl, naphthalene-2,6-diyl or pyridine-2,5-diyl, provided that in the 1,4-phenylene arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by chlorine, bromine or fluorine, and in the biphenyl-4,4?-diyl arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by chlorine, bromine or fluorine; and X1 is a single bond, —CH?CH— or —CH2CH2—.

Abstract: A liquid crystal mixture for a polymer stability alignment process includes at least a set of first liquid crystal compounds without any double bond, at least a set of second liquid crystal compounds having double bonds, and at least a set of reactive monomers having methacrylate group. The concentration of the second liquid crystal compounds is about 0.1-20% by weight of the total weight of the liquid crystal compounds.

Abstract: The invention reports on the use of multi-reactive polymerizable surfactants in mixtures of polymerizable mesogenic materials. The polymerizable surfactants are readily polymerized into the liquid crystal film and build a protective topcoat layer. The invention also relates to a method of producing polymeric optical films with improved stability by using the surfactants. Uses of these films are given for various applications including security applications and displays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid-crystal (LIQUID CRYSTALLINE) media comprising polymerizable compounds, in particular for use in LIQUID CRYSTALLINE displays of the PS (polymer stabilised) or PSA (polymer sustained alignment) type, and to PS(A) displays containing LIQUID CRYSTALLINE media of this type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I where X1, X2, R1, R2, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, m, n and rings B and B? are as defined in claim 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I where Y, X1, X2, X3, R1, R2, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, m and n are as defined in Claim 1, to the use thereof as components in liquid-crystalline media, and to electro-optical display elements containing the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention.

Abstract: A liquid crystal is provided, which can be used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) to provide an LCD exhibiting a good transmittance. The liquid crystal according to the invention has the following properties: (i) a dielectric anisotropy (??) ranging from about ?2.5 to about ?5; (ii) a splay elastic constant (K11) ranging from about 1.1×10?11 N to about 1.6×10?11 N; (iii) a bend elastic constant (K33) ranging from about 1.1×10?11 N to about 1.6×10?11 N; and (iv) ??, K11 (N) and K33 (N) conforming to the following equation: K 11 + K 33 ? 10 × ? ? ? ? ? < 1.28 × 10 - 12 . A liquid crystal material combination is also provided which comprises the liquid crystal according to the invention above mentioned and a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: The liquid crystal composition of the present invention contains a compound represented by the following Formula (1) and a liquid crystal. In Formula (1), at least one among R1 to R7 is a liquid crystalline substituent, and those among R1 to R7 that are not a liquid crystalline substituent each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent. X and Y each independently represent an alkyl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, or an alkylthio group. Z represents an alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms, an acyl group, or an aryl group. A represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom. n represents 0 or 1. The liquid crystal device, reflection display material, and light modulating material of the invention contain the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, in which in the alkyl, arbitrary —CH2— may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —COO—, —CH?CH— or —C?C—, and arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; ring A1, ring A2, ring A3, ring A4 and ring A5 are each independently a benzene ring, a piperidine ring, a tetrahydropyrane ring or a dioxane ring, in which in the rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 3 carbons or halogenated alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons, and —CH? may be replaced by —N?; Z1, Z2, Z4, Z5 and Z6 are each independently a single bond, —COO— or —CF2O—; Z3 is a single bond or —CF2O—, and in the case where Z3 is a single bond, ring A3 is a ring represented by formula (RG-5), or L1 and L2 are both fluorine, or at least one of Z1, Z2, Z4, Z5 and Z6 is —CF2O—; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are each independently hydrogen or halogen; X1 is hydrogen, halogen, —C?N, —N?C?S, —C?C—C?N, —S

Abstract: A liquid crystal medium is described, which has stability to heat, light and so on, a wide temperature range of liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy, and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal medium includes a liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1) and a chiral reagent and exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. For example, R1 is C1-C20 alkyl; the rings A1-A6 are each 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxan-2,5-diyl, 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene with arbitrary hydrogen atom being replaced by a halogen atom; Z1-Z6 are each a single bond; L1-L4 are each a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; X1 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; each of l, m, n, o, p and q is 0 or 1, and the sum of them is 3.

Abstract: The invention provides an optically isotropic liquid crystal composition having: a liquid crystal component comprising a liquid crystal component A consisting of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds having difluoroalkenyl and compounds having alkenyl; and chiral dopants, wherein in the liquid crystal component, the content of compounds having 3 or more ring structures is approximately 15 wt % or more.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy and including a first component, which is a liquid crystal compound having a chroman ring, in which two hydrogens are replaced by fluorine, a second component, which is a liquid crystal compound having phenylene in which two hydrogens are replaced by fluorine and chlorine, and a particular third component, and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A liquid crystal medium is described, having a wide temperature range of a liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy, and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal medium features including a chiral dopant and a liquid crystal compound with chloronaphthalene ring and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes a compound including a repeated unit represented by a general formula (I) (wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and one or more of hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon group may be substituted by the halogen atoms.), in which a weight average molecular weight is 100 or more.

Abstract: Such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition is to be provided that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has a uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains an acrylate compound, an epoxy compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (1-1) and (1-2) as a component (A), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formula (2) as a component (B), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component (C) and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (4-1A), (4-1B), (4-2), (4-3), (4-4) and (4-5) as a component (D), and may optionally contain a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (5-1) and (5-2) as a component (E).

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formula I and dielectrically positive liquid crystalline media comprising a dielectrically positive component, component A, comprising a dielectrically positive compound of formula I, and optionally a second dielectrically positive component, component B, comprising one or more dielectrically positive compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of more than 3, and optionally a dielectric neutral component, component C, as well as to liquid crystal displays comprising these media, especially to active matrix displays and in particular to TN and to IPS displays.

Abstract: The invention is to provide such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of the invention contains an acrylate compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The bisphenol fluorene compound is effective for controlling uniform homeotropic alignment of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition includes a biaxial liquid crystal molecule and has improved response speed.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition intended to be applied to the surface of a base material to form a phase difference layer, the liquid crystal composition being capable of forming a phase difference layer well indicating homeotropic orientation without the presence of an oriented film, even if the liquid crystal composition is directly applied to the base material surface, as well as a phase difference layer formed by the liquid crystal composition, a color filter and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the phase difference layer, and further a method of forming the phase difference layer. To a liquid crystal composition containing one kind or two or more kinds of crosslinking liquid crystal compounds is further added at least an amino-based silane coupling agent to prepare a liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The use of a mesogenic compound having a terminal end chain comprising carbon, oxygen, or sulphur, which has at least one pendent C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy or a cycloalkyl ring, arranged no more than 6 atoms from the end of the chain either decreasing the melting point, increasing the clearing point, increasing the speed of switching and/or increasing the tilt angle of a liquid crystal mixture. Examples of such compounds are of formula (I) where M is a mesogenic core group, and X and Y are terminal groups, provided that at least one group X or Y is a group of sub-formula (i) where Z1, Z2, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, s, q, m and n are as defined in the specification. Novel compounds of formula (I) are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition includes about 1 to about 40% by weight of an alkoxyl naphthalene-base compound, about 5 to about 30% by weight of a dialkoxyl naphthalene-base compound, and about 5 to about 80% by weight of a low viscosity compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium comprising 1,2-difluoroethene compounds of the general formula I, in which R1, ring A, Z1, Z2, m, X and L1-6 are as defined in claim 1. The invention also relates to the use of the medium for electro-optical purposes and to displays containing this medium. Novel 1,2-difluoroethene compounds having 3 or more rings are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel dioxane derivatives of the formula R1-(A1-Z1)mG-(Z2-A2)n-R2, in which G denotes (I) or (II), and in which R1, R2, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, m and n have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to the use thereof as component(s) of liquid-crystalline media, and to liquid-crystal and electro-optical display elements which contain the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention.

Abstract: A dihydrocoumarin ring-containing compound of the invention is represented by the following formula (1): wherein R represents hydrogen or an alkyl; A1 to A3 each represents 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z1 to Z3 each represents a single bond, —(CH2)2—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —CF2O—, —OCF2—, —CH?CH—, —CF?CF—, —C?C—, —(CH2)4—, —O(CH2)2O—, —(CH2)2CF2O—, —(CH2)2OCF2—, —CF2O(CH2)2—, —OCF2(CH2)2—, —CH?CH—CH2O—, or —OCH2—CH?CH—; X represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, —CN, —CF3, —CHF2, —CH2F, —OCF3, —OCHF2, or —OCH2F; G represents oxygen or sulfur; and n and m each represents 0, 1, or 2.

Abstract: Such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition is to be provided that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has a uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains an acrylate compound, an epoxy compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (1-1) and (1-2) as a component (A), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formula (2) as a component (B), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component (C) and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (4-1A), (4-1B), (4-2), (4-3), (4-4) and (4-5) as a component (D), and may optionally contain a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (5-1) and (5-2) as a component (E).

Abstract: The compound (1) according to the invention has general solid-state properties necessary for a compound, stability against heat, light and the like, a suitable optical anisotropy, a suitable dielectric anisotropy, and excellent compatibility with other liquid crystalline compounds. The liquid crystal composition according to the invention contains at least one compound represented by formula (1). The liquid crystal display element according to the invention contains the composition. The compound (1) is represented by formula (1): wherein Ra, Rb, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, Z11, Z12, Z13, Z14, Z15, Z16, Y1, Y2, k, l, m, n, p and q are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising at least a compound having oxiranyl as a first component and at least a compound having oxetanyl as a second component, a polymer or a polymer composition obtained from the liquid crystal composition, a film obtained from the polymer or polymer composition, and an optical compensation element using the film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystalline mixture comprising a) 1-25% by weight of at least one compound of the formula I b) 5-80% by weight of at least one compound of the formula II c) and optionally 1-20% by weight of at least one chiral compound with a HTP of ?20 ?m, wherein R11, A11, Z11, A12, Z12, L11, L12, L13, L14, Z13, A13, Z14, A14, X11, a, b, c, d, R12, A1, Z1, A2, Z2, A3, L1, L2, X12, m and n have the meanings given in claim 1 and their use in TFT, TN, IPS applications and expecially for devices utilizing electro-optical effects in an optically isotropic state.

Abstract: A mesogenic, crosslinkable mixture comprising at least one polymerisable liquid crystal and at least one polymerisable dichroic dye of the general formula I: wherein A represents a dichroic residue exhibiting at least partial absorption in the visible region >400 nm; n1, n2, n3, n4 signifies 0 or 1 whereby the sum of n1, n2, n3 and n4 is >0, and B1 and B4 represent a group of substructure II wherein the broken line symbolises the linkage to said dichroic residue.

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: Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds, which contains at least one compound of formula I and the use thereof for an active-matrix display based on the ECB, FFS, PALC or IPS effect.

Abstract: Provided are a polymerizing liquid-crystalline compound of formula (1). In formula (1), Q1 to Q4 each independently represent a formula (2), a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or the like; at least two of Q1 to Q4 are a formula (2) and may differ from each other. In formula (2), A independently represent a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-phenylene group or the like; X independently represents a single bond, an alkylene group or the like; Z represents a single bond, —COO—, —OCO— or the like; n indicates an integer of from 0 to 3; p represents any one polymerizing group of formulae (P1) to (P8); W represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or the like. When Q1 and Q2 are both hydrogen atoms and when Q3 and Q4 are both formula (2), then p must not be (P8).

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is provided and includes: at least one kind of liquid crystal R exhibiting a liquid crystal phase having a positive birefringence property; and at least one kind of liquid crystal D exhibiting a liquid crystal phase having a negative birefringence property. The characteristic birefringence ?n (?) at wavelength ? of the liquid crystal phase exhibited by the liquid crystal R satisfies the equation (II): ?n (450 nm)/?n (550 nm)<1.0.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid-crystal compound and a liquid-crystal composition containing the compound, of which the advantages are that they show nematic hybrid orientation on a rubbed TAC substrate, they are polymerizable in open air and they readily give a polymer having a high degree of polymerization even when exposed to a relatively small total quantity of light. The films formed by photopolymerizing them keep nematic hybrid orientation. The compound is represented by formula (1): wherein R1 is a hydrogen or an alkyl; R2 is a hydrogen, —OCF3, etc.; A1 is a 1,4-phenylene, etc.; A2 and A3 are independently a 1,4-cyclohexylene, a 1,4-phenylene, etc.; X1 is a single bond, —O—, etc.; X2 and X3 are independently a single bond, —COO—, —C?C—, —CONH—, etc.; m is an integer of from 0 to 20; and n is 1 or 0.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) are described in which M1 is, for example, —CO—O— or a single bond A1 is, for example, 1,4-phenylene, R5 has the same possible definitions specified for R1, with the exception of -M1-A1-R5, but independently of the definition of R1 G1-G2 is CH2CH2, CH?CH, CF2CF2, CF?CF, CF?CH, CH?CF X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 are each independently H or F R1, Y1, Y2 are each independently a) H b) F where Y1, R1, (R1 and Y1) or (R1 and Y2) may also have the definitions c) and/or d), but only in each case not more than one of (R1 and Y1) and of (R1 and Y2) may have the definition d) c) is, for example, a straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms or a straight-chain or branched alkenyl radical having from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, d) -M1-A1-R5 with the following provisos: a) at least one of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, G1-G2 is or contains F b1) when at least one of Y1 and X1 is F and/or G1-G2 contains F, it is possible for R1, X2, X3, X4 not to be F b2) when at least one of R1,

Abstract: A mixture which is polymerizable to polymers exhibiting a high optical anisotropy which is stable during polymerization. The mixture contains a first monomer or (and/or) oligomer having two or more polymerizable functional groups and optionally a mesogenic group; a second monomer or oligomer bearing at least one mesogenic group having an aromatic double ring structure and only one polymerizable group; and from 1 to 50% by weight of a monomer non-polymerizable with the first or second monomer, but which also contains a mesogenic group having an aromatic double ring structure.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid-crystalline polyester with good properties obtainable by subjecting a prepolymer consisting of the repeating units represented by formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV): to heat treatment in a substantially solid state.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, comprising one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by (IA) and (IB) of 10-70% by mass, one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by (IIA) to (IID) of 10-70% by mass, the total content of one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by (IA) to (IID) being 35-80% by mass, and a compound represented by (III) of 20-65% by mass: wherein R1 to R14 each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, etc.; Z1 to Z11 each independently represents a single bond, etc.; Z1 to Z6 and Z9 to Z11 each independently represents —CF2O—, etc.; l and m represent 0 or 1; rings A, B, C and D represent a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, etc.; and rings B, C and D represent a trans-1,4-cyclohexenylene group.

Abstract: The compound (1) or (2), a composition containing the compound and a polymer obtained by polymerizing the composition. R1 is fluorine, cyano, alkyl, and so forth; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, and so forth; R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, fluorine, alkyl, and so forth; A is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, and so forth; X is a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, and so forth; P is alkylene and so forth; m and n are independently 0, 1 or 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium comprising at least one compound of the formula I in which Z1, Z2, Z3, a, b and c are as defined in Claim 1, and to electro-optical displays containing a liquid-crystalline medium of this type.

Abstract: In order to obtain such a liquid crystal thin film having optical anisotropy that suffers less change in optical characteristics thereof under heating to 200° C., the following polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided as a raw material therefor. The composition contains Compound (1) and at least one of Compound (2) and Compound (3), with a proportion of Compound (1) being from 50 to 99% by weight, a proportion of Compound (2) being from 0 to 50% by weight, and a proportion of Compound (3) being from 0 to 50% by weight: wherein R is alkyl; each of W1 and W2 is independently hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine or —CH3; each of W3 and W4 is independently hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, —CH3 or —CF3; W5 is alkyl having, alkoxy, chlorine, fluorine, —CN or —OCF3; X is a single bond, —CH?CH— or —CH2CH2—; Z is a single bond, —COO—, —OCO— or —CH2CH2—; and q is an integer of from 1 to 20.

Abstract: A liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having at least one compound of the formula I in which R11, R12 and have the meanings indicated in claim 1, is described. Also described is the use thereof for an active-matrix display based on the VA, ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid-crystalline, polymerizable vinyl ketone compound of formula (1): Preferably, R1 is hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —CF2H, —CFH2, —OCF3, —OCF2H, or alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl or alkenyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2, R3 and R5 are hydrogen; A1 to A4 are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene or 1,4-phenylene where any hydrogen may be substituted with halogen; Z1 to Z3 are independently a single bond, —(CH2)2—, —CH?CH—, —CF?CF—, —OCF2— or —CF2O—; Z4 is a single bond, —(CH2)3— or —(CH2)4—; m, n and q are independently 0, 1 or 2. The uppermost temperature of the liquid crystalline phase of the compound is high, and the compound has good compatibility with other compounds and has the necessary characteristics such as optical anisotropy.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formula (a): wherein Ra and Rb are each independently hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, provided that in the alkyl, —CH2— may be replaced by —O—, but plural —O— are not adjacent to each other, and hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine; ring A1 and ring A2 are each independently trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene, provided that one or two hydrogens of the 1,4-phenylene may be replaced by halogen, and in a 6-membered ring of these groups, one —CH2— or two —CH2— that are not adjacent to each other may be replaced by —O—, and one or two —CH? may be replaced by —N?; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a single bond, —(CH2)2—, —(CH2)4—, —CH?CH—, —C?—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —COO—, —OCO— or —OCF2—; l and m are each independently 0, 1 or 2, provided that l+m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and n is an integer of from 0 to 6, provided that in —(CH2)n—, —CH2— may be replaced by —O—, but plural —O— are not adjacent to eac