| abstract |
Liquid-crystalline compounds having a large negative value of permittivity anisotropy and a small value of optical anisotropy; a liquid-crystal composition containing the same; and a liquid-crystal display element formed from the liquid-crystal composition. The compounds are novel 2,3-difluorophenyl derivatives represented by general formula (1) having a 2,3-difluorophenyl moiety and the liquid-crystal composition contains any of the compounds, while the liquid-crystal display element is formed from this liquid-crystal composition: wherein Ra and Rb each represents C1-10 alkyl or alkoxy, provided that in at least either, any at least one methylene group has been replaced with cyclopropane-1,2-diyl, -CF2-, or -CFH-; rings A1 to A4 each represents cyclohexane-1,4-diyl or 1,4-phenylene, provided that at least either of rings A3 and A4 is 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z1, Z2, and Z3 each represents a single bond, -(CH2)p-, -CO2-, -CF2O-, or -CH2O-; p is an integer of 2 to 4; and m and n each is 0 or 1. |