| abstract |
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided carboxylate compounds represented by the following formula [A] and liquid crystal compositions containing said compounds. (see formula I) wherein R is a group selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, alkoxyl of 3-20 carbon atoms and halogenated alkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, X and Y each represent a group selected from the group consisting of -COO-, -OCO-, -CH2CH2-, -CH2O-,-OCH2-, -S-S-, (see formula II) and (see formula III) or a single bond, A and D each represents a group selected from the group consisting of (see formula IV to X) and (see formula XI) and R* is an optically active gruop of 4-20 carbon atoms containing at least one asymmetric carbon atom (hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms of said optically active group may be substituted with halogen atoms), and m and n are each an integer of 0-2, with the proviso that both m and n are not 0 at the same time. |