Industrial Technology Research Institute

Hwei-Long Kuo

Wen-Liang Tsai

Shu-Hui Yang

Shih-Yiing Sheu

A liquid crystal composition containing an optically active or a ferroelectric liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein A can be either --CH.sub.2 -- or --CO--; R can be either an alkyl or alkoxyl group having 1 to 22 carbons: R' is an alkyl group having 2 to 8 carbons; x and y are integers of either 0 or 1, provided that when x=0, y.noteq.1; D can be a hydrogen or a halogen atom; and * represents a chiral center. The ferroelectric liquid crystals of the present invention exhibit optical and chemical stabilities, high-speed responsive, and high spontaneous polarization, and thus are excellent materials for use in making liquid crystal devices and liquid crystal light switching elements.

Ferroelectric liquid crystals containing pyrimidine and chiral compounds

An optically active lactic acid derivative having the formula (1a): ##STR1## wherein A is O or S; B is --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --O; R1 is an alkoxy group having 1-22 carbon atoms, a phenolate, a substituted phenolate, a hydroxy group, or a halogen atom; R2 is an alkyl group having 2-8 carbon atoms; m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 2, 3, 4 or 5; C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. Liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal devices containing the above mentioned derivatives are also disclosed.

Lactic acid derivatives having two asymmetric carbon atoms, liquid

A liquid crystal composition containing an optically active or a ferroelectric liquid crystal compound represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein: A is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur; B is selected from the group consisting of --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- and --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --O--; R is an alkyl or alkoxyl group having 1 to 22 carbons; R' is an alkyl group having 2 to 8 carbons or an ether group having 2 to 8 carbons; m is an integer from 0 to 4; n is an integer from 2 to 5; k is an integer of 0 or 1; l is an integer of 0 or 1; C and D are selected form the group consisting of hydrogen atom and halogen atoms, and * represents a chiral center. The ferroelectric liquid crystals of the present invention exhibit optical and chemical stabilities, high-speed switching characteristic and high spontaneous polarization, and thus are excellent materials for use in liquid crystal devices and liquid crystal light switching elements.

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Hwei-Long Kuo