| abstract |
Disclosed is a polycyclic compound represented by thenfollowing formula (I):n R 1 -X 1 -[A 1 -X 2 ]-[A 2 -X 3 ]-R 2 nwherein R 1 is a (halogenated) alkyl group of 6 to 16 carbonnatoms, X 1 is -O- group or a single bond, A 1 is anbiphenylene group, a phenylene group or the like, A 2 is 1-fluoro-3,4-dihydronaphthalenenor the like, X 2 and X 3 areneach -COO-, a single bond or the like, and R 2 is annoptically active group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms which has atnleast one asymmetric carbon atom. Also disclosed are anliquid crystal material consisting of the polycyclicncompound, a liquid crystal composition comprising thenliquid crystal material, and a liquid crystal element.nThis novel polycyclic compound is optically active andncapable of being in a smectic phase in a wide temperaturenrange including room temperature. The polycyclic compoundncan be used as a ferroelectric liquid crystal material ornan antiferroelectric liquid crystal material. By the usenof the liquid crystal material of the invention, a liquidncrystal element having a quick response speed in a widentemperature range can be obtained. |