Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited

Chizu Kawakami

Masayoshi Minai

Isao Kurimoto

Koichi Fujisawa

Takeshi Tani

Shoji Toda

Takayuki Higashii

Kiyoshi Imamura

Takayuki Higashi

An optically active phenol useful in the preparation of liquid crystalline compounds which is represented by the formula (V): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.2 represents an alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; Z' represents ##STR2## wherein q represents a number of 1 to 5 and * indicates asymmetric carbon atom; l represents a number of 2; t represents a number of 1 to 5; s represents a number of 0 or 1.

Optically active benzene derivatives, process for producing the same and

Disclosed are herein optically active benzene derivatives represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## preparation processes therefor, liquid crystal composition containing such benzene derivatives as liquid-crystalline compound, and a light switching element using said liquid crystal composition as liquid crystal element, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, x, y, z, m, p and s are as defined in the specification.

Disclosed herein are optically active carboxylic acid or acid halide compounds of formula III: ##STR1## Wherein R.sub.2 represents an optically active alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; R' represents a hydroxyl group or a halogen atom; k is 0 or 1; and n represents an integer of 1 to 6.

Optically active ester derivatives, preparation process thereof, liquid

Disclosed herein are optically active phenols of formula (V) which are useful as precursors for esters used in liquid crystalline crystalline mixtures: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.2 represents an optically active alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; k represents a number of 0 or 1; n represents a number of 1 to 6.

Disclosed are herein optically active ester derivatives represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents an optically active alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen atoms; Y represents --O--, --COO-- or --OCO--; X represents --COO-- or --OCO--; l represents a number of 1 or 2; k and m each represents a number of 0 or 1; n represents a number of 1 to 6), preparation processes therefor, liquid crystal materials containing such ester derivatives as active ingredient, and a light switching element using said liquid crystal materials as liquid crystal element.

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Tsukuba, Japan

Chizu Kawakami