| abstract |
A novel liquid crystalline compound having a large elastic constant ratio, excellent compatibility with other liquid crystalline compound(s) particularly at a low temperature, and chemical stability, or a liquid crystalline compound having a combination of a large positive anisotropy of dielectric constant, a very high specific resistance (a high voltage retention), good UV stability, and excellent compatibility with other liquid crystalline compound(s) at a low temperature, and a liquid crystal composition comprising the same are disclosed. The liquid crystalline compound is represented by general formula (1), wherein R1 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cyano group, or a halogen atom, or an alkyl or alkoxy halide group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene group; Z1, Z2, and Z3 each independently represent a covalent bond, -CH2CH2-,-CH=CH-, -C C- or -COO-; 1 and m are 0 or 1; and n is 0 to 10. The liquid crystal composition comprises such a liquid crystalline compound. |