Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Yuuichirou Tatsuki

Shinichi Nishiyama

Junichi Kawabata

Tooru Yamanaka

Hideo Yamaoka

Chiho Tanaka

Fujihisa Matsunaga

Mitsuki Yasuhara

Mitsunori Nakamura

There is provided a carboxylic acid compound represented by the following formulae (I) to (IV): ##STR1## a liquid crystal material consisting of the carboxylic acid ester compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the carboxylic acid ester compound, and a liquid crystal element using the carboxylic acid ester compound. There can be obtained advantages such as low operating temperature, high speed switching, very small electric power consumption, and high-stable contrast.

Carboxylate compounds, liquid crystal materials, liquid crystal

Carboxylate compounds, liquid crystal materials liquid crystal

The process for preparing anilines by reaction of phenols with an amination agent in accordance with the present invention is disclosed, which process is characterized by carrying out the reaction of phenols with an amination agent in the presence of a low alkali and weakly acidic alumina catalyst having the alkali oxide content of less than 0.5% by weight, said alumina catalyst being obtained by firing an alumina catalyst containing in a dry state more than 80% by weight of alumina and less than 20% by weight of silica at a temperature of 600.degree.-900.degree. C., followed by acid treatment. According to the present invention, there are obtained such excellent effects that even when the reaction is carried out at a temperature lower than those employed in the case of conventionally well-known catalysts, the desired anilines can be prepared in high yields and high selectivity and, moreover, a high catalyst activity can be maintained over a long period of time. The alumina catalyst used in the present invention is characterized by having the alkali metal oxide content of less than 0.5% by weight and pKa of from -3.0 to +6.8 as measured by Hammett's indicator, and containing in a dry state more than 80% by weight of alumina and less than 20% by weight of silica, and this catalyst is prepared by firing an alumina catalyst containing in a dry state more than 80% by weight of alumina and less than 20% by weight of silica at a temperature of 600.degree.-900.degree. C., followed by acid treatment.

Process for preparing anilines, catalysts used therefor and process for

The present invention provides a tetralin compound represented by the following formula:

Tetralin compound, liquid crystal material, liquid crystal composition

The carboxylic acid ester compound of the invention is represented by the following formula [I]: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms; n is 0 or 1; at least one of A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 is a group having tetralin structure, and the residual groups of A.sup.1, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 are each independently a group having specific aromatic cyclic structure such as a phenylene group and a biphenyl group; Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are each independently a group selected from the group consisting of --COO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- and --CH.sub.2 O--; Q.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.3, --CF.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5 and --C.sub.2 F.sub.5 ; and q is an integer of 4 to 12. This carboxylic acid ester compound may be used as an antiferroelectric liquid crystal material, and also be used as a liquid crystal composition by using other liquid crystal material in combination. A liquid crystal element which is formed by filling the carboxylic acid ester compound in a gap between two substrates opposite to each other shows excellent properties required for antiferroelectric liquid crystal elements, for example, high speed switching.

Carboxylic acid ester compound, liquid crystal material, liquid crystal

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Sodegaura, Japan

Yuuichirou Tatsuki