Ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal device using same

Claim 2

A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising: at least one optically active compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 - 18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, at least one of R 1 and R 2 being optically active; Xi denotes and X 2 denotes a single bond, and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): wherein R 3 and R 4 respectively denote a linear or branched optically inactive alkyl group having 1 - 18 carbon atoms capable of having an alkoxy group of 1 -12 carbon atoms; X 3 and X 4 respectively denote a sinale bond, and m and n are respectively 0, 1 or 2 with proviso that both of m and n are not 0.

Claim 3

A composition according to Claim 1, which further comprises a mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy.

Claim 4

A composition according to Claim 2, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy has a dielectric anisotropy Δ∈ of below -2.

Claim 5

A composition according to Claim 3, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy has a dielectric anisotropy Δ∈ of below -5.

Claim 6

A composition according to Claim 4, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy has a dielectric anisotropy Δ∈ of below -10.

Claim 7

A composition according to Claim 2, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy is a mesomorphic compound represented by any of the following formulas (III-1) to (III-5); Formula (III-1): wherein Ra and Rb respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; Xa and Xd respectively denote a single bond, Xb and Xc respectively denote a single bond, or -CH 2 CH 2 -; Aa and Ab respectively denote a single bond, or with proviso that when Aa and Ab are both single bonds, Xb and Xc are both single bonds, and Xa and Xd are both single bonds or -0-, or Xa is and Ya and Yb are respectively cyano group, halogen or hydrogen with proviso that Ya and Yb cannot be hydrogen simultaneously; Formula (III-2): wherein Re and Rf respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; Xe and Xh are respectively a single bond, Xf and Xg are respectively a single bond; and Ae and Af are respectively or a single bond with proviso that Ae and Af cannot be a single bond simultaneously; Formula (III-3): wherein Ai is a single bond or Aj is a single bond, Ri and Rj are respectively a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent with proviso that Ri and Rj are linear alkyl groups when Aj is a single bond; Z 1 is -0- or -S-; Xi and Xk are respectively a single bond, Xj is a single bond, -CH 2 0- or -OCH 2 with proviso that Xi is a single bond when Ai is a single bond, Xj is not a single bond when Aj is and Xk is a single bond when Aj is a single bond; Formula (III-4): wherein RI and Rm are respectively a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; AI and Am are respectively a single bond, with proviso that Al and Am cannot be a single bond simultaneously; XI is a single bond, and Xm is a single bond, -CH 2 0-, -OCH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -C≡C-; Formula (III-5): wherein Rn and Ro are respectively a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; Xn and Xg are respectively a single bond, Xo and Xp are respectively a single bond, -CH 2 0-, -OCH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 -; An and Ap are respectively a single bond, Ao is and Z 2 is

Claim 8

A liquid crystal device, comprising a pair of electrode plates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition according to any one of Claims 1 - 6 disposed between the electrode plates.