Optically active naphthalene derivative, process for preparation

Abstract

Optically active naphthalene derivatives including optically active naphthylcarboxylic acid derivative, hydroxynaphthalene derivative, alkoxynaphthylalkanol derivative and alkylnaphthylalkanol derivative have the following structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 denotes an alkyl group of 3-20 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes an alkyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms optionally substituted with halogen atom(s) or an alkoxyalkyl group of 2-20 carbon atoms optionally substituted with halogen atom(s), X denotes --COO-- or --OCO--, k, l and m denotes 0 or 1 respectively, n denotes an integer of 0-6, p denotes 0 or 1, and the asterisk indicates an asymmetric carbon atom, with the proviso that when k is 0, l and m are not 1 at the same time, and when k is 1, m is 1, and when n is 0 and m is 1, X is --COO--. These optically active naphthalene derivatives are useful as a ferroelectric liquid crystal materials or its component having a sufficient spontaneous polarization and by which a high speed response is possible and which further exhibits a ferroelectric liquid crystal phase in a temperature region around room temperature. Processes for the preparation of the optically active derivatives are also disclosed.