JP5347347B2 - Optically isotropic liquid crystal medium and optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal medium which has a wide liquid crystal phase temperature range, large refractive index anisotropy, large dielectric constant anisotropy, and an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid crystal medium is characterized by comprising a chloronaphthalene ring-having liquid crystal compound and a chiral agent and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal medium useful as a material for an optical element. Specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal medium having a wide liquid crystal phase temperature range, a large dielectric anisotropy, and a refractive index anisotropy. In addition, the present invention relates to an optical element using the liquid crystal medium. Specifically, the present invention relates to an optical element that can be used in a wide temperature range, can be driven at a low voltage, and can obtain a high-speed electro-optic response.

  Liquid crystal display elements using a liquid crystal composition are widely used in displays such as watches, calculators and word processors. These liquid crystal display elements utilize the refractive index anisotropy and dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal compounds. As an operation mode in the liquid crystal display element, PC (phase change), TN (twisted nematic), STN (super twisted nematic), BTN (Bistable twisted nematic), ECB (mainly using one or more polarizing plates) are used. Known are electrically controlled birefringence (OCB), optically compensated bend (OCB), in-plane switching (IPS), and vertical alignment (VA). Furthermore, in recent years, a mode in which an electric field is applied in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase to develop electric birefringence has been actively studied (Patent Documents 1 to 9, Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Furthermore, wavelength tunable filters, wavefront control elements, liquid crystal lenses, aberration correction elements, aperture control elements, optical head devices, etc. that utilize electric birefringence in the blue phase, which is one of the optically isotropic liquid crystal phases, have been proposed. (Patent Documents 10 to 12).
The classification based on the element driving method is PM (passive matrix) and AM (active matrix). PM (passive matrix) is classified into static and multiplex, and AM is classified into TFT (thin film transistor) and MIM (metal insulator metal).

These liquid crystal display elements contain a liquid crystal composition having appropriate physical properties. In order to improve the characteristics of the liquid crystal display element, it is preferable that the liquid crystal composition has appropriate physical properties. General physical properties necessary for the liquid crystal compound which is a component of the liquid crystal composition are as follows.
(1) being chemically stable and physically stable;
(2) having a high clearing point (liquid crystal phase-isotropic phase transition temperature);
(3) The lower limit temperature of the liquid crystal phase (such as an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase such as a nematic phase, a cholesteric phase, a smectic phase, or a blue phase) is low.
(4) Excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds,
(5) having an appropriate amount of dielectric anisotropy;
(6) having an appropriate refractive index anisotropy;
It is.
In particular, in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, a liquid crystal compound having a large dielectric anisotropy and refractive index anisotropy is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing driving voltage.

When a liquid crystal composition containing a chemically and physically stable liquid crystal compound as in (1) is used for a liquid crystal display element, the voltage holding ratio can be increased.
Further, as in (2) and (3), in a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystal compound having a high clearing point or a low minimum temperature of the liquid crystal phase, the temperature range of a nematic phase or an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase is set. It can be expanded and can be used as a display element in a wide temperature range. The liquid crystal compound is generally used as a liquid crystal composition prepared by mixing with many other liquid crystal compounds in order to develop characteristics that are difficult to be exhibited by a single compound. Therefore, the liquid crystal compound used in the liquid crystal display element preferably has good compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds and the like as shown in (4). In recent years, there has been a demand for liquid crystal display elements that have particularly higher display performance such as contrast, display capacity, response time characteristics, and the like. Furthermore, a liquid crystal composition having a low driving voltage is required for the liquid crystal material used. In order to drive an optical element driven in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase at a low voltage, it is preferable to use a liquid crystal compound having a large dielectric anisotropy and refractive index anisotropy.

  In the optically isotropic polymer / liquid crystal composite materials disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 and Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3, the voltage required for the operation of the element is high. Although Patent Documents 4 to 9 disclose an optically isotropic liquid crystal composition and a polymer / liquid crystal composite material in which a decrease in operating voltage is expected from the above, it contains the compound having a chloronaphthalene moiety of the present application. There is no description to recall about optically isotropic liquid crystal compositions and polymer / liquid crystal composite materials.

JP 2003-327966 A International Publication No. 2005/90520 Pamphlet JP 2005-336477 A JP 2006-89622 A JP 2006-299084 A JP 2006-506477 A JP 2006-506515 A International Publication No. 2006/063662 Pamphlet JP 2006-225655 A JP-A-2005-157109 International Publication No. 2005/80529 Pamphlet JP 2006-127707 A Nature Materials, 1, 64, (2002) Adv. Mater., 17, 96, (2005) Journal of the SID, 14, 551, (2006)

The first object of the present invention is to provide an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase having stability to heat, light, etc., a wide liquid crystal phase temperature range, a large refractive index anisotropy, and a large dielectric anisotropy. It is to provide a liquid crystal medium having the same. The second object is to provide various optical elements that contain this liquid crystal medium, can be used in a wide temperature range, have a short response time, a large contrast, and a low driving voltage.

  The present invention provides the following liquid crystal medium (liquid crystal composition or polymer / liquid crystal composite), an optical element containing the liquid crystal medium, and the like.

式（１）において、Ｒ^１は水素、炭素数１〜２０のアルキルであり、このアルキル中の任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、このアルキル中の任意の水素はハロゲンまたは炭素数１〜３のアルキルで置き換えられてもよく；環Ａ^１、環Ａ^２、環Ａ^３、環Ａ^４、および環Ａ^５は独立して、ベンゼン環、ナフタレン環、チオフェン環、ピペリジン環、シクロヘキセン環、ビシクロオクタン環、テトラヒドロナフタレン環またはシクロヘキサン環であり、これらの環の任意の水素がハロゲン、炭素数１〜３のアルキル、アルコキシまたはハロゲン化アルキルで置き換えられてもよく、環の−ＣＨ_２−は−Ｏ−または−Ｓ−で置き換えられてもよく、−ＣＨ＝は−Ｎ＝で置き換えられてもよく；Ｚ^１、Ｚ^２、Ｚ^３、Ｚ^４、Ｚ^５、およびＺ^６は独立して、単結合、炭素数１〜４のアルキレンであり、このアルキレン中の任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＳＯ−、−ＯＣＳ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、任意の水素はハロゲンで置き換えられてもよく；Ｌ^１、Ｌ^２、Ｌ^３およびＬ^４は独立して、水素またはハロゲンであり；Ｘ^１は水素、ハロゲン、−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−Ｎ＝Ｃ＝Ｓ、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−ＳＦ_５、または炭素数１〜１０のアルキルであり、このアルキルにおいて任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−により置き換えられてもよく、そして任意の水素はハロゲンにより置き換えられてもよく；ｌ、ｍ、ｎ、ｏ、およびｐは独立して、０または１であり、ｌ＋ｍ＋ｎ＋ｏ＋ｐ≦４である。 1. A liquid crystal composition comprising a compound represented by formula (1) and a chiral agent and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

In the formula (1), R ¹ is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and any —CH ₂ — in the alkyl is —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, — CH = CH—, —CF═CF—, or —C≡C— may be substituted, and any hydrogen in the alkyl may be substituted with halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; ring A ¹ , Ring A ² , ring A ³ , ring A ⁴ , and ring A ⁵ are each independently a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, thiophene ring, piperidine ring, cyclohexene ring, bicyclooctane ring, tetrahydronaphthalene ring or cyclohexane ring, any hydrogen halide of these rings, an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, may be replaced by alkoxy or halogenated alkyl, -CH ring 2 _- replace by -O- or -S- May be, -CH = may be replaced by ^{-N =; Z 1, Z 2} , Z 3, Z 4, Z 5, and ^{Z 6} are each independently a single bond, 1 to 4 carbon atoms And any —CH ₂ — in the alkylene is —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CSO—, —OCS—, —CH═CH—, —CF═. CF— or —C≡C— may be replaced and any hydrogen may be replaced with halogen; L ¹ , L ² , L ³ and L ⁴ are independently hydrogen or halogen; X ¹ is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —C≡C—C≡N, —SF ₅ , or alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and in this alkyl, any —CH ₂ -May be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CH = CH-, or -C≡C-. And any hydrogen may be replaced by halogen; l, m, n, o, and p are independently 0 or 1 and l + m + n + o + p ≦ 4.

2. In the formula (1), R ¹ is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 2 to 21 carbon atoms, difluoroalkenyl having 2 to 21 carbon atoms, alkynyl having 2 to 21 carbon atoms, alkoxy having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, C 2-20 alkenyloxy, C 1-19 alkylthio or C 1-19 alkenylthio; X ¹ is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —SF _{5. , -CH 2 F, -CHF 2,} -CF 3, - (CH 2) 2 -F, -CF 2 CH 2 F, -CF 2 CHF 2, -CH 2 CF 3, -CF 2 CF 3, - ( _{CH 2) 3 -F, - (} CF 2) 3 -F, -CF 2 CHFCF 3, -CHFCF 2 CF 3, - (CH 2) 4 -F, - (CF 2) 4 -F, - (CH 2 _{) 5 -F, - (CF 2} ) 5 -F, -O _{H 2 F, -OCHF 2, -OCF} 3, -O- (CH 2) 2 -F, -OCF 2 CH 2 F, -OCF 2 CHF 2, -OCH 2 CF 3, -O- (CH 2) 3 _{-F, -O- (CF 2) 3} -F, -OCF 2 CHFCF 3, -OCHFCF 2 CF 3, -O (CH 2) 4 -F, -O- (CF 2) 4 -F, -O- _{(CH 2) 5 -F, -O-} (CF 2) 5 -F, -CH = CHF, -CH = CF 2, -CF = CHF, -CH = CHCH 2 F, -CH = CHCF 3, - ( _{CH 2) 2 -CH = CF 2} , -CH 2 CH = CHCF 3 or the liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 which is -CH = CHCF ₂ CF _3,.

3. In the formula (1), Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ are independently a single bond, —CH ₂ CH ₂ —, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—. _{, -COO -, - CF 2 O} -, - CH 2 O-, or -OCH ₂ - claim 1 or 2 liquid crystal composition according to a.

4). Ring A ¹ , Ring A ² , Ring A ³ , Ring A ⁴ , and Ring A ⁵ are each independently one of formulas (RG-1) to (RG-15), and Y ¹ , Y ² , Y Item 3. The item according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein ³ and Y ⁴ are independently hydrogen or halogen, and fn1, fn2, fn3, and fn4 are independently 0, 1, 2, or 3. Liquid crystal composition.

5. The R ¹ is represented by any ^one of the formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-19), and the R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, Liquid crystal composition.

これらの式において、Ｒ^１は式（ＣＨＮ−１）〜（ＣＨＮ−１９）のいずれか１つで表され、Ｒ^1ａは水素または炭素数１〜２０のアルキルであり、；環Ａ^１、環Ａ^２、環Ａ^３、環Ａ^４、および環Ａ^５は独立して、式（ＲＧ−１）、（ＲＧ−５）、（ＲＧ−７）、（ＲＧ−８−１）〜（ＲＧ−８−５）、（ＲＧ−９）、（ＲＧ−１０）または（ＲＧ−１５）であり、；Ｚ^１、Ｚ^２、Ｚ^３、Ｚ^４、Ｚ^５、およびＺ^６は独立して、単結合、−ＣＨ_２ＣＨ_２−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＦ_２Ｏ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、または−ＯＣＨ_２−であり；Ｌ^１およびＬ^２は独立して、水素、フッ素または塩素であり；Ｘ^１はフッ素、塩素、−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−ＣＦ_３、−ＣＨＦ_２、−ＣＨ_２Ｆ、−ＯＣＦ_３、−ＯＣＨＦ_２、−ＯＣＨ_２Ｆまたは−Ｃ＝Ｃ−ＣＦ_３である。

6). Item 2. The liquid crystal composition according to item 1, comprising any one of formulas (1-1) to (1-9).

In these formulas, R ¹ is represented by any ^one of formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-19), R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons; ring A ¹ , ring A ² , Ring A ³ , Ring A ⁴ , and Ring A ⁵ are independently selected from the formulas (RG-1), (RG-5), (RG-7), (RG-8-1) to (RG-). 8-5), (RG-9), (RG-10) or (RG-15); Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are independently _{bond, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -} CH = CH -, - C≡C -, - COO -, - CF 2 O -, - CH 2 O-, or -OCH ₂ - a and; ^{L 1} and ^{L 2} independently, hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine; ^{X 1} is fluorine, _{chlorine, -C≡N, -CF 3, -CHF 2} , -CH 2 F, -OCF 3, -O HF _2, a -OCH ₂ F or -C = C-CF _3.

7). Item 6. The formula (1-1) to (1-9), wherein at least one of Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ is —CF ₂ O—. Liquid crystal composition.

8). Item 7. The liquid crystal composition according to item 6, wherein in formulas (1-1) to (1-9), at least one of Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ is —COO—. object.

9. In formulas (1-1) to (1-9), R ¹ is represented by any ^one of formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-4) and (CHN-6) to (CHN-8), Item 9. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 6 to 8, wherein R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons.

これらの式において、Ｒ^２は炭素数１〜１０のアルキルまたは炭素数２〜１０のアルケニルであり、アルキルおよびアルケニルにおいて任意の水素はフッ素で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ₂−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく；Ｘ^２はフッ素、塩素、−ＯＣＦ₃、−ＯＣＨＦ₂、−ＣＦ₃、−ＣＨＦ₂、−ＣＨ₂Ｆ、−ＯＣＦ₂ＣＨＦ₂、または−ＯＣＦ₂ＣＨＦＣＦ₃であり；環Ｂ^１、環Ｂ^２、および環Ｂ^３は独立して、１，４−シクロヘキシレン、１，３−ジオキサン−２，５−ジイル、ピリミジン−２，５−ジイル、テトラヒドロピラン−２，５−ジイル、１，４−フェニレン、または任意の水素がフッ素で置き換えられた１，４−フェニレンであり；Ｚ^７およびＺ^８は独立して、−（ＣＨ₂）₂−、−（ＣＨ₂）₄−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＦ₂Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ₂−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、または単結合であり；Ｌ^５およびＬ^６は独立して、水素またはフッ素である。 10. Item 10. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (2), (3), and (4).

In these formulas, R ² is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and in the alkyl and alkenyl, any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine, and any —CH ₂ — is — May be replaced by O—; X ² may be fluorine, chlorine, —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ , —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F, —OCF ₂ CHF ₂ , or —OCF ₂ CHFCF ₃ Yes; Ring B ¹ , Ring B ² , and Ring B ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2 , 5-diyl, 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; Z ⁷ and Z ⁸ are independently — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, — (CH _{2) 4} - _{-COO -, - CF 2 O -} , - OCF 2 -, - CH = CH -, - C≡C -, - CH 2 O-, or a single bond; ^{L 5} and ^{L 6} are each independently hydrogen Or it is fluorine.

これらの式において、Ｒ^３は炭素数１〜１０のアルキルまたは炭素数２〜１０のアルケニルであり、アルキルおよびアルケニルにおいて任意の水素はフッ素で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ₂−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく；Ｘ^３は−Ｃ≡Ｎまたは−Ｃ≡Ｃ−Ｃ≡Ｎであり；環Ｃ^１、環Ｃ^２および環Ｃ^３は独立して、１，４−シクロヘキシレン、１，４−フェニレン、任意の水素がフッ素で置き換えられた１，４−フェニレン、１，３−ジオキサン−２，５−ジイル、テトラヒドロピラン−２，５−ジイル、またはピリミジン−２，５−ジイルであり；Ｚ^９は−（ＣＨ₂）₂−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＦ₂Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ₂−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、または単結合であり；Ｌ^７およびＬ^８は独立して、水素またはフッ素であり；ｒは１または２であり、ｓは０または１であり、ｒ＋ｓ＝０、１または２である。 11. Item 10. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (5).

In these formulas, R ³ is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and in the alkyl and alkenyl, any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine, and any —CH ₂ — is — X ³ is —C≡N or —C≡C—C≡N; Ring C ¹ , Ring C ² and Ring C ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, or pyrimidine-2,5- Z ⁹ is — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —COO—, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, —C≡C—, —CH ₂ O—, or a single bond; L ⁷ and L ⁸ are independently hydrogen or fluorine There; r is 1 or 2, s is 0 or 1, r + s = 0, 1 or 2.

これらの式において中、Ｒ^４およびＲ^５は独立して、炭素数１〜１０のアルキルまたは炭素数２〜１０のアルケニルであり、アルキルおよびアルケニルにおいて任意の水素はフッ素で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ₂−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく；環Ｄ^１、環Ｄ^２、環Ｄ^３、および環Ｄ^４は独立して、１，４−シクロヘキシレン、１，４−シクロヘキセニレン、１，４−フェニレン、任意の水素がフッ素で置き換えられた１，４−フェニレン、テトラヒドロピラン−２，５−ジイル、またはデカヒドロナフタレン−２，６−ジイルであり；Ｚ^１０、Ｚ^１１、Ｚ^１２、およびＺ^１３は独立して、−（ＣＨ₂）₂−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ_２−、−ＯＣＦ_２（ＣＨ₂）₂−、または単結合であり；Ｌ^９およびＬ^１０は独立して、フッ素または塩素であり；ｔ、ｕ、ｘ、ｙ、およびｚは独立して０または１であり、ｕ＋ｘ＋ｙ＋ｚは１または２である。 12 Any one of Items 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by Formulas (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10), respectively. The liquid crystal composition according to item.

In these formulas, R ⁴ and R ⁵ are independently alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and any hydrogen in alkyl and alkenyl may be replaced by fluorine, Any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; Ring D ¹ , Ring D ² , Ring D ³ , and Ring D ⁴ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohex; Senylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, or decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl; Z ¹⁰ , Z ¹¹ , Z ¹² , and Z ¹³ are each independently — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —COO—, —CH ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, —OCF ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, or a single bond. Yes; L And ^{L 10} are independently fluorine or chlorine; t, u, x, y, and z are independently 0 or 1, u + x + y + z is 1 or 2.

これらの式において、Ｒ^６およびＲ^７は独立して、炭素数１〜１０のアルキルまたは炭素数２〜１０のアルケニルであり、このアルキルおよびアルケニルにおいて任意の水素はフッ素で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ₂−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく；環Ｅ^１、環Ｅ^２、および環Ｅ^３は独立して、１，４−シクロヘキシレン、ピリミジン−２，５−ジイル、１，４−フェニレン、２−フルオロ−１，４−フェニレン、３−フルオロ−１，４−フェニレン、または２，５−ジフルオロ−１，４−フェニレンであり；Ｚ^１４およびＺ^１５は独立して、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−（ＣＨ₂）₂−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、または単結合である。 13. Item 10. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13).

In these formulas, R ⁶ and R ⁷ are independently alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, in which any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine, Any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; ring E ¹ , ring E ² , and ring E ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, 1 , 4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, or 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z ¹⁴ and Z ¹⁵ are independently —C≡C—, —COO—, — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —CH═CH—, or a single bond.

14 Item 11. The liquid crystal composition according to item 10, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (5) according to item 11.

15. Item 11. The liquid crystal composition according to item 10, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13).

16. Item 12. The liquid crystal composition according to item 11, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13).

17. Item 13. The liquid crystal composition according to item 12, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13).

これらの式において、Ｒ^８は炭素数１〜１０のアルキル、炭素数２〜１０のアルケニルまたは炭素数２〜１０のアルキニルであり、アルキル、アルケニルおよびアルキニルにおいて任意の水素はフッ素で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ₂−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく；Ｘ^４はフッ素、塩素、−ＳＦ_５、−ＯＣＦ₃、−ＯＣＨＦ₂、−ＣＦ₃、−ＣＨＦ₂、−ＣＨ₂Ｆ、−ＯＣＦ₂ＣＨＦ₂、または−ＯＣＦ₂ＣＨＦＣＦ₃であり；環Ｆ^１、環Ｆ^２、環Ｆ^３および環Ｆ^４は独立して、１，４−シクロヘキシレン、１，３−ジオキサン−２，５−ジイル、ピリミジン−２，５−ジイル、テトラヒドロピラン−２，５−ジイル、１，４−フェニレン、または任意の水素がフッ素または塩素で置き換えられた１，４−フェニレンであり；Ｚ^１６、Ｚ^１７およびＺ^１８は独立して、−（ＣＨ₂）₂−、−（ＣＨ₂）₄−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＦ₂Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ₂−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、または単結合であり；Ｌ^９およびＬ^１０は独立して、水素またはフッ素である。 18. Item 10. The item according to any one of Items 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by each of the formulas (15), (16), (17) and (18): Liquid crystal composition.

In these formulas, R ⁸ is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons or alkynyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and any hydrogen in alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be replaced by fluorine. Well, any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; X ⁴ is fluorine, chlorine, —SF ₅ , —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ , —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F , —OCF ₂ CHF ₂ , or —OCF ₂ CHFCF ₃ ; ring F ¹ , ring F ² , ring F ³ and ring F ⁴ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2 , 5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine or chlorine ^{Ri; Z 16,} Z ¹⁷ and ^{Z 18} are _{independently, - (CH 2) 2 -} , - (CH 2) 4 -, - COO -, - CF 2 O -, - OCF 2 -, - CH = CH _{-, - C≡C -, - CH} 2 O-, or a single bond; ^{L 9} and ^{L 10} are independently hydrogen or fluorine.

これらの式において、Ｒ^９は炭素数１〜１０のアルキル、炭素数２〜１０のアルケニルまたは炭素数２〜１０のアルキニルであり、アルキル、アルケニルおよびアルキニルにおいて任意の水素はフッ素で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ₂−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく；Ｘ^５は−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−Ｎ＝Ｃ＝Ｓ、または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−Ｃ≡Ｎであり；環Ｇ^１、環Ｇ^２および環Ｇ^３は独立して、１，４−シクロヘキシレン、１，４−フェニレン、任意の水素がフッ素または塩素で置き換えられた１，４−フェニレン、１，３−ジオキサン−２，５−ジイル、テトラヒドロピラン−２，５−ジイル、またはピリミジン−２，５−ジイルであり；Ｚ^１９は−（ＣＨ₂）₂−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＦ₂Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ₂−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、または単結合であり；Ｌ^１１およびＬ^１２は独立して、水素またはフッ素であり；ａａは０、１または２であり、ａｂは０または１であり、ａａ＋ａｂは０、１または２である。 19. Item 10. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (19).

In these formulas, R ⁹ is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons or alkynyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and any hydrogen in alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be replaced by fluorine. Well, any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; X ⁵ is —C≡N, —N═C═S, or —C≡C—C≡N; Ring G ¹ , Ring G ² and Ring G ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine or chlorine, 1,3-dioxane-2, 5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl; Z ¹⁹ is — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —COO—, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, -C≡C -, - _CH 2 O Or a single ^{bond; L 11} and ^{L 12} are independently hydrogen or fluorine; aa is 0, 1 or 2, ab is 0 or 1, aa + ab is 0, 1 or 2 .

20. Item 20. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 19, comprising at least one antioxidant and / or ultraviolet absorber.

21. Item 21. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 20, wherein the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase does not exhibit diffracted light of two or more colors.

22. Item 21. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 20, wherein the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase exhibits two or more colors of diffracted light.

23. Item 21 is a liquid crystal composition obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition having a difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the chiral nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist at 3 to 150 ° C. Or the liquid crystal composition of 22.

24. Item 21 is a liquid crystal composition obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition having a difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the chiral nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist at 5 to 150 ° C. Or the liquid crystal composition of 22.

25. Item 21 or The liquid crystal composition is obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition having a difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist at 3 to 150 ° C. 23. A liquid crystal composition according to 22.

26. Item 26. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 25, wherein the ratio of the chiral agent is 1 to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition.

27. Item 26. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 25, wherein the ratio of the chiral agent is 5 to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition.

Item 28. The liquid crystal composition according to item 26 or 27, wherein the liquid crystal composition exhibits a chiral nematic phase at any temperature of 28.70 to −20 ° C. and has a helical pitch of 700 nm or less in at least part of this temperature range.

（式（Ｋ１）〜（Ｋ５）中、Ｒ^Ｋは独立に、水素、ハロゲン、−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−Ｎ＝Ｃ＝Ｏ、−Ｎ＝Ｃ＝Ｓまたは炭素数１〜２０のアルキルであり、このアルキル中の任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、このアルキル中の任意の水素はハロゲンで置き換えられてもよく；Ａは独立に、芳香族性あるいは非芳香族性の３ないし８員環、または、炭素数９以上の縮合環であり、これらの環の任意の水素がハロゲン、炭素数１〜３のアルキルまたはハロアルキルで置き換えられてもよく、環の−ＣＨ_２−は−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−または−ＮＨ−で置き換えられてもよく、−ＣＨ＝は−Ｎ＝で置き換えられてもよく；Ｚは独立に、単結合、炭素数１〜８のアルキレンであるが、任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＳＯ−、−ＯＣＳ−、−Ｎ＝Ｎ−、−ＣＨ＝Ｎ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、任意の水素はハロゲンで置き換えられてもよく；
Ｘは単結合、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、−ＯＣＨ_２−、−ＣＦ_２Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ_２−、または−ＣＨ_２ＣＨ_２−であり；
ｍＫは１〜４の整数である。） 29. Item 29. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 26 to 28, wherein the chiral agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (K1) to (K5).

(In the formula (K1) ~ (K5), R K is independently hydrogen, halogen, -C≡N, alkyl of -N = C = O, -N = C = S or C 1-20, Any —CH ₂ — in the alkyl may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF— or —C≡C—. Well, any hydrogen in the alkyl may be replaced by halogen; A is independently an aromatic or non-aromatic 3- to 8-membered ring or a condensed ring having 9 or more carbon atoms; Any hydrogen in these rings may be replaced with halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or haloalkyl, and —CH ₂ — in the ring may be replaced with —O—, —S— or —NH—. , -CH = may be replaced by -N =; Z is independently a single bond, 1 carbon Although 8 is alkylene, arbitrary _-CH 2 -, -O -, - S -, - COO -, - OCO -, - CSO -, - OCS -, - N = N -, - CH = N- , -N = CH-, -CH = CH-, -CF = CF-, or -C≡C-, and any hydrogen may be replaced by halogen;
X is a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH ₂ O—, —OCH ₂ —, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, or —CH ₂ CH ₂ —;
mK is an integer of 1 to 4. )

（Ｒ^Ｋは独立に、炭素数３〜１０のアルキルであり、このアルキル中の環に隣接する−ＣＨ_２−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−で置き換えられてもよい。） 30. Item 26, wherein the chiral agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (K2-1) to (K2-8) and (K5-1) to (K5-3), respectively. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of -28.

(R ^K is independently alkyl having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and —CH ₂ — adjacent to the ring in the alkyl may be replaced by —O—, and any —CH ₂ — is —CH ₂ — = CH- may be substituted.)

31. Item 31 is a mixture comprising the liquid crystal composition according to any one of items 1 to 30 and a polymerizable monomer.

32. Item 32. The mixture according to item 31, wherein the polymerizable monomer is a photopolymerizable monomer or a thermally polymerizable monomer.

33. Item 33. A polymer / liquid crystal composite material obtained by polymerizing the mixture of Item 31 or 32 and used for an element driven in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

34. Item 34. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to Item 33, obtained by polymerizing the mixture according to Item 31 or 32 in a non-liquid crystal isotropic phase or an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

35. Item 34. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to Item 33, wherein the polymer contained in the polymer / liquid crystal composite material has a mesogen moiety.

36. Item 36. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of Items 33 to 35, wherein the polymer contained in the polymer / liquid crystal composite material has a crosslinked structure.

37. Item 37. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of Items 33 to 36, wherein the proportion of the liquid crystal composition is 60 to 99% by weight and the proportion of the polymer is 1 to 40% by weight.

38. An optical element comprising an electrode disposed on one or both surfaces, a liquid crystal medium disposed between the substrates, and an electric field applying means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal medium via the electrode, wherein the liquid crystal medium is 38. An optical element which is the liquid crystal composition according to any one of .about.30 or the polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of items 33 to 37.

39. An electrode is disposed on one or both surfaces, at least one of which is a transparent substrate, a liquid crystal medium disposed between the substrates, and a polarizing plate disposed outside the substrate, and the liquid crystal medium via the electrode 32. An optical element comprising an electric field applying means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal medium, wherein the liquid crystal medium is any one of items 26 to 30 and the liquid crystal composition or polymer / liquid crystal composite material is any of items 33 to 37 An optical element which is the polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to claim 1.

40. Item 40. The optical element according to Item 39, wherein an electrode is configured so that an electric field can be applied in at least two directions on at least one of the pair of substrates.

41. Item 40. The optical element according to Item 39, wherein an electrode is configured to apply an electric field in at least two directions to one or both of a pair of substrates arranged in parallel to each other.

42. 42. The optical element according to any one of Items 38 to 41, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a matrix to constitute a pixel electrode, each pixel includes an active element, and the active element is a thin film transistor (TFT).

In the present invention, the liquid crystal medium is a general term for a liquid crystal composition and a polymer / liquid crystal composite. The optical element refers to various elements that perform functions such as light modulation and optical switching by utilizing the electro-optic effect. For example, display elements (liquid crystal display elements), optical communication systems, optical information processing, And a light modulation element used in the sensor system. The Kerr effect is known for light modulation using a change in refractive index caused by voltage application to an optically isotropic liquid crystal medium. The Kerr effect is a phenomenon in which the electric birefringence value Δn (E) is proportional to the square of the electric field E, and Δn (E) = KλE ² holds for a material exhibiting the Kerr effect (K: Kerr coefficient (Kerr constant), λ: wavelength)). Here, the electric birefringence value is a refractive index anisotropy value induced when an electric field is applied to the isotropic medium.

Terms used in this specification are as follows. A liquid crystal compound is a generic term for a compound having a liquid crystal phase such as a nematic phase or a smectic phase and a compound having no liquid crystal phase but useful as a component of a liquid crystal composition. The chiral agent is an optically active compound and is added to give a desired twisted molecular arrangement to the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal display element is a general term for a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display module. A liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystal composition, and a liquid crystal display element may be abbreviated as a compound, a composition, and an element, respectively. For example, the upper limit temperature of the liquid crystal phase is a phase transition temperature of the liquid crystal phase to the isotropic phase, and may simply be abbreviated as the clearing point or the upper limit temperature. The lower limit temperature of the liquid crystal phase may be simply abbreviated as the lower limit temperature. The compound represented by formula (1) may be abbreviated as compound (1). This abbreviation may also apply to compounds represented by formula (2) and the like. In Formula (1) to Formula (19), symbols such as B, D, and E surrounded by hexagons correspond to Ring B, Ring D, and Ring E, respectively. The amount of the compound expressed as a percentage is a weight percentage (% by weight) based on the total weight of the composition. A plurality of the same symbols such as rings A ¹ , Y ¹ , and B are described in the same formula or different formulas, but these may be the same or different.

“Arbitrary” indicates that not only the position but also the number is arbitrary, but the case where the number is 0 is not included. The expression that any A may be replaced by B, C or D is in addition to any A being replaced by B, any A being replaced by C and any A being replaced by D. Thus, it is meant to include the case where a plurality of A are replaced by at least two of B to D. For example, alkyl in which any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O— or —CH═CH— includes alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkenyl, alkenyloxyalkyl, and the like. In the present invention, it is not preferable that two consecutive —CH ₂ — are replaced with —O— to become —O—O—. In addition, it is not preferable that the terminal —CH ₂ — in alkyl is replaced by —O—. The present invention is further described below. Preferred examples of the terminal group, ring, bonding group and the like in the compound represented by the formula (1) are also described.

The liquid crystal composition of the present invention exhibits stability against heat, light, etc., a high upper limit temperature and a lower lower limit temperature of an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, and is low in an element driven with an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. It has a driving voltage. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material of the present invention having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase exhibits a high maximum temperature and a low minimum temperature of the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, and is optically isotropic. The element driven in the liquid crystal phase has a low driving voltage.
The optical element driven by the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase of the present invention has a wide usable temperature range, a short response time, a large contrast ratio, and a low driving voltage.

式（１）において、Ｒ^１は水素、炭素数１〜２０のアルキルであり、このアルキル中の任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、このアルキル基中の任意の水素はハロゲンまたは炭素数１〜３のアルキルで置き換えられてもよい。
例えば、ＣＨ_３（ＣＨ_２）_３−において任意の−ＣＨ_２−を−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、または−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−で置き換えた基の例は、ＣＨ_３（ＣＨ_２）_２Ｏ−、ＣＨ_３−Ｏ−（ＣＨ_２）_２−、ＣＨ_３−Ｏ−ＣＨ_２−Ｏ−、ＣＨ_３（ＣＨ_２）_２Ｓ−、ＣＨ_３−Ｓ−（ＣＨ_２）_２−、ＣＨ_３−Ｓ−ＣＨ_２−Ｓ−、ＣＨ_２＝ＣＨ−（ＣＨ_２）_３−、ＣＨ_３−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−（ＣＨ_２）_２−、ＣＨ_３−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、ＣＨ_３ＣＨ_２Ｃ≡Ｃ−などである。例えば、ＣＨ_３（ＣＨ_２）_３−または、ＣＨ_３（ＣＨ_２）_３−において任意の−ＣＨ_２−を−Ｏ−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−または−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−で置き換えた基中の任意の水素がハロゲンに置き換えられた基の例として、ＣｌＣＨ_２（ＣＨ_２）_３−、ＣＦ_２＝ＣＨ−（ＣＨ_２）_３−、ＣＨ_２Ｆ（ＣＨ_２）_２Ｏ−、ＣＨ_２ＦＣＨ_２Ｃ≡Ｃ−が挙げられる。 1-1 Compound (1)
The liquid crystal composition having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase of the present invention contains the compound represented by the formula (1) as component A. The first aspect of the present invention is a composition containing only component A, or a composition containing component A and other components not specifically indicated in the present specification. First, the compound represented by Formula (1) is demonstrated.

In the formula (1), R ¹ is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and any —CH ₂ — in the alkyl is —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, — CH═CH—, —CF═CF— or —C≡C— may be substituted, and any hydrogen in the alkyl group may be substituted with halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
For example, an example of a group in which any —CH ₂ — in CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₃ — is replaced by —O—, —S—, or —CH═CH— is CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂ O—, _{CH 3 -O- (CH 2) 2} -, CH 3 -O-CH 2 -O-, CH 3 (CH 2) 2 S-, CH 3 -S- (CH 2) 2 -, CH 3 -S- _{CH 2 -S-, CH 2 = CH-} (CH 2) 3 -, CH 3 -CH = CH- (CH 2) 2 -, CH 3 -CH = CH-CH 2 O-, CH 3 CH 2 C≡ C- and the like. For example, any group in CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₃ — or a group in which any —CH ₂ — in CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₃ — is replaced by —O—, —C≡C— or —CH═CH— Examples of the group in which hydrogen in the above is replaced by halogen include ClCH ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₃ —, CF ₂ ═CH— (CH ₂ ) ₃ —, CH ₂ F (CH ₂ ) ₂ O—, CH ₂ FCH ₂ C ≡C-.

In such R ¹ , a straight chain is preferable to a branch. Even when R ¹ is a branched group, it is preferable when it is optically active. The preferred configuration of —CH═CH— in alkenyl depends on the position of the double bond. _{-CH = CHCH 3, -CH = CHC} 2 H 5, -CH = CHC 3 H 7, -CH = CHC 4 H 9, -C 2 H 4 CH = CHCH 3, and _{-C 2 H} 4 CH = CHC 2 In alkenyl having a double bond at odd positions such as H ₅ , the trans configuration is preferable. -CH ₂ CH ₌ CHCH _3, cis configuration in the alkenyl having an even position to the double bond, such as _{-CH 2 CH = CHC 2 H 5} , and _-CH 2 CH = _CHC 3 _{H 7} are preferred. An alkenyl compound having a preferred configuration has a high maximum temperature or a wide temperature range of the liquid crystal phase. Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 1985, 131, 109 and Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 1985, 131, 327 have detailed descriptions.

The alkyl may be linear or branched, and specific examples of alkyl include —CH ₃ , —C ₂ H ₅ , —C ₃ H ₇ , —C ₄ H ₉ , —C ₅ H ₁₁ , —C _{6. H 13, -C 7 H 15,} -C 8 H 17, -C 9 H 19, -C 10 H 21, -C 11 H 23, -C 12 H 25, -C 13 H 27, -C 14 H 29 , and _-C are 15 _{H 31.}

Alkoxy may be linear or branched, and specific examples of alkoxy include —OCH ₃ , —OC ₂ H ₅ , —OC ₃ H ₇ , —OC ₄ H ₉ , —OC ₅ H ₁₁ , —OC _6. H ₁₃ and _{-OC 7 H 15, -OC 8 H} 17, -OC 9 H 19, -OC 10 H 21, -OC 11 H 23, -OC 12 H 25, -OC 13 H 27, and _{-OC 14} H ₂₉ .

The alkoxyalkyl may be linear or branched, and specific examples of alkoxyalkyl include —CH ₂ OCH ₃ , —CH ₂ OC ₂ H ₅ , —CH ₂ OC ₃ H ₇ , — (CH ₂ ) _{2. -OCH 3, - (CH 2)} 2 -OC 2 H 5, - (CH 2) 2 -OC 3 H 7, - (CH 2) 3 -OCH 3, - (CH 2) 4 -OCH 3, and - it is a _{(CH 2)} 5 -OCH _3.

Alkenyl may be linear or branched, and specific examples of alkenyl include —CH═CH ₂ , —CH═CHCH ₃ , —CH ₂ CH═CH ₂ , —CH═CHC ₂ H ₅ , —CH. _{2 CH = CHCH 3, - (} CH 2) 2 -CH = CH 2, -CH = CHC 3 H 7, -CH 2 CH = CHC 2 H 5, - (CH 2) 2 -CH = CHCH 3, and - _{(CH 2)} a 3 -CH = CH _2.

Alkenyloxy may be linear or branched, and specific examples of alkenyloxy are —OCH ₂ CH═CH ₂ , —OCH ₂ CH═CHCH ₃ , and —OCH ₂ CH═CHC ₂ H ₅ . .

Alkynyl may be linear or branched, and specific examples of alkynyl include —C≡CH, —C≡CCH ₃ , —CH ₂ C≡CH, —C≡CC ₂ H ₅ , —CH ₂ C≡CCH. ₃ , — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —C≡CH, —C≡CC ₃ H ₇ , —CH ₂ C≡CC ₂ H ₅ , — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —C≡CCH ₃ , and —C≡C (CH ₂ ) It is ₅ .

R ¹ is preferably a structure represented by formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-19). Here, R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons. More preferred R ¹ is (CHN-1) to (CHN-4) or (CHN-6) to (CHN-8).

In formula (1), ring A ¹ , ring A ² , ring A ³ , ring A ⁴ , and ring A ⁵ are independently benzene ring, naphthalene ring, thiophene ring, cyclohexene ring, bicyclooctane ring, tetrahydronaphthalene ring or A cyclohexane ring, and any hydrogen in these rings may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, alkoxy or alkyl halide, and the ring —CH ₂ — is —O— or —S—. It may be replaced, and -CH = may be replaced with -N =. Preferred examples of ring A ¹ , ring A ² , ring A ³ , ring A ⁴ , and ring A ⁵ are formulas (RG-1) to (RG-15), and Y ¹ , Y ² , Y ³ and Y ⁴ is independently hydrogen or halogen, and fn1, fn2, fn3 and fn4 are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3.

More preferable examples of the ring A ¹ , the ring A ² , the ring A ³ , the ring A ⁴ , and the ring A ⁵ include formulas (RG-1), (RG-5), (RG-7), (RG-8- 1) to (RG-8-5), (RG-9), (RG-10) or (RG-15).

In the formula (1), Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ are each independently a single bond, alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and any —CH ₂ in the alkylene -May be replaced by -O-, -S-, -COO-, -OCO-, -CSO-, -OCS-, -CH = CH-, -CF = CF- or -C≡C-. Any hydrogen may be replaced with a halogen.

Preferred examples of Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are a single bond, —CH ₂ CH ₂ —, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —COO—, —CF. ₂ O—, —CH ₂ O— or —OCH ₂ —. In these bonds, double bonds of linking groups such as —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH═CH— (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, and — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —CH═CH— The configuration of is preferably trans rather than cis. Most preferred Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are a single bond, —COO—, —CF ₂ O—.

In the formula (1), L ¹ , L ² , L ³ and L ⁴ are independently hydrogen or halogen. L ¹ , L ² , L ³ and L ⁴ are preferably independently hydrogen or fluorine.

In formula (1), X ¹ is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —C≡C—C≡N, —SF ₅ , or alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons. In the formula, any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, and any hydrogen may be replaced by halogen.

Specific examples of alkyl in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by _{halogen, -CH 2 F, -CHF 2,} -CF 3, - (CH 2) 2 -F, -CF 2 CH 2 F, -CF 2 CHF _{2, -CH 2 CF 3, -CF} 2 CF 3, - (CH 2) 3 -F, - (CF 2) 3 -F, -CF 2 CHFCF 3, -CHFCF 2 CF 3, - (CH 2) 4 _{-F, - (CF 2) 4} -F, - (CH 2) 5 -F, and - _{(CF 2)} a 5 -F.

Specific examples of alkoxy in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by _{halogen, -OCH 2 F, -OCHF 2,} -OCF 3, -O- (CH 2) 2 -F, -OCF 2 CH 2 F, -OCF _{2 CHF 2, -OCH 2 CF 3} , -O- (CH 2) 3 -F, -O- (CF 2) 3 -F, -OCF 2 CHFCF 3, -OCHFCF 2 CF 3, -O (CH 2) _{4 -F, -O- (CF 2)} 4 -F, is -O- _{(CH 2)} 5 -F, and -O- _{(CF 2)} 5 -F.

Specific examples of alkenyl in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by _{halogen, -CH = CHF, -CH = CF} 2, -CF = CHF, -CH = CHCH 2 F, -CH = CHCF 3, - (CH 2 ) ₂ —CH═CF ₂ , —CH ₂ CH═CHCF ₃ , and —CH═CHCF ₂ CF ₃ .

Specific examples of X ¹ are hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —SF ₅ , —CH ₃ , —C ₂ H ₅ , —C ₃ H ₇ , —C _{4. H 9, -C 5 H 11,} -C 6 H 13, -C 7 H 15, -C 8 H 17, -C 9 H 19, -C 10 H 21, -CH 2 F, -CHF 2, -CF _{3, - (CH 2) 2} -F, -CF 2 CH 2 F, -CF 2 CHF 2, -CH 2 CF 3, -CF 2 CF 3, - (CH 2) 3 -F, - (CF 2) _{3 -F, -CF 2 CHFCF 3,} -CHFCF 2 CF 3, - (CH 2) 4 -F, - (CF 2) 4 -F, - (CH 2) 5 -F, - (CF 2) 5 - _{F, -OCH 3, -OC 2 H} 5, -OC 3 H 7, -OC 4 H 9, -OC 5 H 11, -OCH 2 F, -OCHF _{, -OCF 3, -O- (CH 2} ) 2 -F, -OCF 2 CH 2 F, -OCF 2 CHF 2, -OCH 2 CF 3, -O- (CH 2) 3 -F, -O- ( _{CF 2) 3 -F, -OCF 2} CHFCF 3, -OCHFCF 2 CF 3, -O (CH 2) 4 -F, -O- (CF 2) 4 -F, -O- (CH 2) 5 -F _{, -O- (CF 2) 5 -F} , -CH = CH 2, -CH = CHCH 3, -CH 2 CH = CH 2, -CH = CHC 2 H 5, -CH 2 CH = CHCH 3, - ( _{CH 2) 2 -CH = CH 2} , -CH = CHC 3 H 7, -CH 2 CH = CHC 2 H 5, - (CH 2) 2 -CH = CHCH 3, - (CH 2) 3 -CH = CH _{2, -CH = CHF, -CH =} CF 2, -CF = CHF, -CH = CHCH _{2 F, -CH = CHCF 3,} - (CH 2) 2 -CH = CF 2, -CH 2 CH = CHCF 3, and a -CH = CHCF ₂ CF _3.

Preferred examples of X ¹ are fluorine, chlorine, —C≡N, —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F, —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ and —OCH ₂ F. Most preferred examples of X ¹ are fluorine, chlorine, —CF ₃ and —OCF ₃ .

In the formula (1), l, m, n, o, and p are independently 0 or 1, and l + m + n + o + p ≦ 4. Preferably l + m + n + o + p ≦ 3, and most preferably l + m + n + o + p ≦ 2.

これらの式において、Ｒ^１は式（ＣＨＮ−１）〜（ＣＨＮ−１９）のいずれか１つで表され、Ｒ^1ａは水素または炭素数１〜２０のアルキルであり、；環Ａ^１、環Ａ^２、環Ａ^３、環Ａ^４、および環Ａ^５は独立して、式（ＲＧ−１）〜（ＲＧ−１５）の一つであり、Ｙ¹、Ｙ^２、Ｙ^３およびＹ^４は独立して水素またはハロゲンであり、ｆｎ１、ｆｎ２、ｆｎ３およびｆｎ４は独立して０、1、２または３であり；Ｚ^１、Ｚ^２、Ｚ^３、Ｚ^４、Ｚ^５、およびＺ^６は独立して、単結合、−ＣＨ_２ＣＨ_２−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−Ｃ≡Ｃ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＣＦ_２Ｏ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、または−ＯＣＨ_２−であり；Ｌ^１およびＬ^２は独立して、水素、フッ素または塩素であり；Ｘ^１はフッ素、塩素、−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−ＣＦ_３、−ＣＨＦ_２、−ＣＨ_２Ｆ、−ＯＣＦ_３、−ＯＣＨＦ_２、−ＯＣＨ_２Ｆまたは−Ｃ＝Ｃ−ＣＦ_３である。 In Formula (1), the structures represented by Formulas (1-1) to (1-9) are preferable.

In these formulas, R ¹ is represented by any ^one of formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-19), R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons; ring A ¹ , ring A ² , Ring A ³ , Ring A ⁴ , and Ring A ⁵ are each independently one of formulas (RG-1) to (RG-15), and Y ¹ , Y ² , Y ^3, and Y ⁴ are Independently hydrogen or halogen, fn1, fn2, fn3 and fn4 are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3; Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are independently and a single _{bond, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -} CH = CH -, - C≡C -, - COO -, - CF 2 O -, - CH 2 O-, or -OCH ₂ - a and; L ¹ and L ² are independently hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine; X ¹ is fluorine, chlorine, —C≡N, —CF ₃ , —CH _{F 2, -CH 2 F, -OCF} 3, -OCHF 2, a -OCH ₂ F or -C = C-CF _3.

1-2 Properties of Compound (1) The compound (1) used in the present invention will be described in more detail. Compound (1) is a liquid crystal compound having a chloronaphthalene ring. This compound is extremely physically and chemically stable under the conditions in which the device is normally used, and has good compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. A composition containing this compound is stable under conditions in which the device is normally used. Therefore, the temperature range of the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase in the composition can be expanded, and the composition can be used as a display element in a wide temperature range. Further, since this compound has a large dielectric anisotropy and refractive index anisotropy, it is useful as a component for lowering the driving voltage of a composition driven with an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

The combination of l, m, n, o and p of compound (1), the types of rings A ^{1 to} A ⁵ , the left terminal group R ¹ , the group on the rightmost benzene ring and the substitution position (L ¹ , By appropriately selecting L ² and X ¹ ) or the linking groups Z ^{1 to} Z ⁶ , it is possible to arbitrarily adjust physical properties such as clearing point, refractive index anisotropy and dielectric anisotropy. . The combination of l, m, n, o and p, ring A ^{1 to} A ⁵ , left terminal group R ¹ , right terminal group X ¹ , linking group Z ^{1 to} Z ⁶ , L ¹ and L ² are the compounds ( The effect on the physical properties of 1) will be described below.

  In general, the larger the l + m + n + o + p, the higher the clearing point, and the smaller the l + m + n + o + p, the lower the melting point.

The more aromatic rings are included in the rings A ^{1 to} A ⁵ , the greater the refractive index anisotropy. Formulas (RG-7), (RG-8-2) to (RG-8-5), (RG-9), (RG-10), and (RG-15) are effective in developing a large dielectric anisotropy. (RG-8-1) to (RG-8-5), (RG-9), (RG-10) and (RG-15) are effective in developing a large refractive index anisotropy, RG-1) and (RG-5) contribute to good compatibility.

When R ¹ is linear, the temperature range of the liquid crystal phase is wide and the viscosity is small. When R ¹ is branched, compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds is good. A compound in which R ¹ is an optically active group is useful as a chiral dopant. A compound in which R ¹ is not an optically active group is useful as a component of the composition. When R ¹ is alkenyl, the preferred configuration depends on the position of the double bond. An alkenyl compound having a preferred configuration has a high maximum temperature or a wide temperature range of the liquid crystal phase.

The bonding groups Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are a single bond, —CH ₂ CH ₂ —, —CH═CH—, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, —CH _{2. O -, - OCH 2 -,} - CF = CF -, - (CH 2) 3 -O -, - O- (CH 2) 3 -, - (CH 2) 2 -CF 2 O -, - OCF 2 - When it is (CH ₂ ) ₂ — or — (CH ₂ ) ₄ —, the viscosity is small. When the bonding group is a single bond, — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, or —CH═CH—, the viscosity is smaller. When the bonding group is —CH═CH—, the temperature range of the liquid crystal phase is wide, and the elastic constant ratio K ₃₃ / K ₁₁ (K ₃₃ : bend elastic constant, K ₁₁ : spray elastic constant) is large. When the bonding group is —C≡C—, the refractive index anisotropy is large. When the bonding group is —COO— or —CF ₂ O—, the dielectric anisotropy is large. Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are a single bond, — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —CH ₂ O—, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, — (CH ₂ ) 4 _- is when is a relatively chemically stable, not prone to relatively deteriorated.

The right terminal group X ¹ is fluorine, chlorine, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —SF ₅ , —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F, —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ or —OCH _2. When it is F, the dielectric anisotropy is large. When X ¹ is —C≡N, —N═C═S or alkenyl, the refractive index anisotropy is large. When X ¹ is fluorine, —OCF ₃ , or alkyl, it is chemically stable.

L ¹ and L ² are both fluorine, X ¹ is fluorine, chlorine, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —SF ₅ , —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F, —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ or —OCH ₂ F, the dielectric anisotropy is large. When L ¹ is fluorine and X ¹ is —CF ₃ , —OCF ₃ , L ¹ and L ² are both fluorine and X ¹ is —CF ₃ , —OCF ₃ , or L ¹ , L ² When all of X ¹ are fluorine, the dielectric anisotropy value is large, the temperature range of the liquid crystal phase is wide, and it is chemically stable and hardly deteriorates.

  As described above, a compound having desired physical properties can be obtained by appropriately selecting the kind of ring structure, terminal group, bonding group and the like.

1-3 Specific Example of Compound (1) Preferred examples of compound (1) are formulas (1-1) to (1-9). More preferable examples include formulas (1-4A) to (1-4E), (1-5A) to (1-5G), (1-6A) to (1-6G), (1-7A) to (1 -7D), (1-8A) to (1-8E), and (1-9A).

(In these formulas, ^{R 1} is the formula (CHN-1) ~ (CHN -4) and (CHN-6) ~ (a one chain chosen from CHN-8),; ring ^{A 1} is formula (RG-7) (RG- 8-1) ~ (RG-8-5), (RG-10) and it is one of the ring selected from (RG-15); ^{X 1} is fluorine, chlorine _{, -C≡N, -CF 3, -CHF 2} , -CH 2 F, -OCF 3, a -OCHF ₂ or _{-C = C-CF 3,.} )

1-4 Synthesis of Compound (1) Next, the synthesis of compound (1) will be described. Compound (1) can be synthesized by appropriately combining techniques in organic synthetic chemistry. Methods for introducing the desired end groups, rings and linking groups into the starting materials are Organic Syntheses (John Wiley & Sons, Inc), Organic Reactions (John Wiley & Sons, Inc), Comprehensive・ It is described in the organic synthesis (Comprehensive Organic Synthesis, Pergamon Press), new experimental chemistry course (Maruzen).

1-4-1. Method for Producing Chloronaphthalene Ring 1-Chloronaphthalene ring is described in, for example, Synlett, No. 1, et al. 18, 2837 (2005).

An example of a method for forming the bonding group ^Z 1 to Z ⁶ in the 1-4-2 method for forming the bonding group ^Z 1 to Z ⁶ Compound (1) is as the following scheme. In this scheme, MSG ¹ or MSG ² is a monovalent organic group having at least one ring. A plurality of MSG ¹ (or MSG ² ) used in the scheme may be the same or different. Compounds (1A) to (1J) correspond to compound (1).

Next, regarding the bonding groups Z ^{1 to} Z ⁶ in the compound (1), methods for generating various bonds will be described in the following items (I) to (X).

(I) Formation of Single Bond A compound obtained by reacting arylboric acid (20) with compound (21) synthesized by a known method in the presence of a carbonate aqueous solution and a catalyst such as tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium. Synthesize (1A). This compound (1A) is obtained by reacting compound (22) synthesized by a known method with n-butyllithium and then with zinc chloride, and in the presence of a catalyst such as dichlorobis (triphenylphosphine) palladium. ) Is also reacted.

(II) Formation of —COO— and —OCO— The compound (22) is reacted with n-butyllithium and subsequently with carbon dioxide to obtain a carboxylic acid (23). Compound having —COO— by dehydrating compound (23) and phenol (24) synthesized by a known method in the presence of DCC (1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) and DMAP (4-dimethylaminopyridine) Synthesize (1B). A compound having —OCO— is also synthesized by this method.

(III) Formation of —CF ₂ O— and —OCF ₂ — Compound (1B) is treated with a sulfurizing agent such as Lawesson's reagent to obtain compound (25). The compound (25) is fluorinated with a hydrogen fluoride pyridine complex and NBS (N-bromosuccinimide) to synthesize a compound (1C) having —CF ₂ O—. See M. Kuroboshi et al., Chem. Lett., 1992, 827. Compound (1C) can also be synthesized by fluorinating compound (25) with (diethylamino) sulfur trifluoride (DAST). See WH Bunnelle et al., J. Org. Chem. 1990, 55, 768. A compound having —OCF ₂ — is also synthesized by this method. These linking groups can also be generated by the method described in Peer. Kirsch et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 1480.

(IV) Formation of —CH═CH— The compound (22) is treated with n-butyllithium and then reacted with formamide such as N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to obtain the aldehyde (27). A phosphoryl ylide generated by treating a phosphonium salt (26) synthesized by a known method with a base such as potassium tert-butoxide is reacted with an aldehyde (27) to synthesize a compound (1D). Since a cis isomer is generated depending on the reaction conditions, the cis isomer is isomerized to a trans isomer by a known method as necessary.

(V) Formation of — (CH ₂ ) ₂ — Compound (1E) is synthesized by hydrogenating compound (1D) in the presence of a catalyst such as palladium carbon.

(VI) Formation of — (CH ₂ ) ₄ — A compound having — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —CH═CH— according to the method of item (IV), using phosphonium salt (28) instead of phosphonium salt (26). obtain. This is catalytically hydrogenated to synthesize compound (1F).

(VII) Formation of -C≡C- After reacting compound (22) with 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol in the presence of a catalyst of dichloropalladium and copper halide, under basic conditions Deprotection gives compound (29). Compound (1G) is synthesized by reacting compound (29) with compound (21) in the presence of a catalyst of dichlorobistriphenylphosphine palladium and copper halide.

(VIII) Formation of —CF═CF— The compound (22) is treated with n-butyllithium and then reacted with tetrafluoroethylene to obtain the compound (30). Compound (21) is treated with n-butyllithium and then reacted with compound (30) to synthesize compound (1H).

(IX) Formation of —CH ₂ O— or —OCH ₂ — The compound (27) is reduced with a reducing agent such as sodium borohydride to obtain the compound (31). This is halogenated with hydrobromic acid or the like to obtain compound (32). Compound (32) is reacted with compound (24) in the presence of potassium carbonate or the like to synthesize compound (1I).

Formation of (X)-(CH ₂ ) ₃ O— or —O (CH ₂ ) ₃ — Compound (1J) was prepared in the same manner as in (IX) above using Compound (33) instead of Compound (27). ).

1-4-3 Method for synthesizing ring A ¹ , ring A ² , ring A ³ , ring A ⁴ , ring A ⁵ and ring A ⁶ 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,6-difluoro-1,4 Starting materials are commercially available for rings such as -phenylene, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-phenylene, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, or Synthetic methods are well known.

1-4-4 Method for Synthesizing Compound (1) There are a plurality of methods for synthesizing the compound represented by formula (1), and it is synthesized from commercially available reagents as appropriate with reference to Examples, literatures and books in this specification. Is possible.

2 Compounds (2) to (13)
A second aspect of the present invention is a liquid crystal composition obtained by adding a component selected from components B, C, D and E shown below to component A which is a compound represented by the formula (1). Yes, the driving voltage, the liquid crystal phase temperature range, the refractive index anisotropy value, the dielectric anisotropy value, the viscosity, and the like can be freely adjusted as compared with the composition containing only component A.

The component added to Component A was selected from Component B consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Formulas (2), (3) and (4), or from the group consisting of Formula (5). Mixing component C consisting of at least one compound or component D consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of formulas (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) Is preferred.
Further, by mixing component E consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of formulas (11), (12) and (13), threshold voltage, liquid crystal phase temperature range, refractive index anisotropy value In addition, the dielectric anisotropy value and viscosity can be adjusted.

  In addition, in each component of the liquid crystal composition used in the present invention, an analog composed of an isotope element of each element can be used because there is no great difference in physical properties.

  Among the components B, formulas (2-1) to (2-16) are preferred examples of the compound represented by formula (2), and formula (3-1) is a preferred example of the compound represented by formula (3). ) To (3-112) and preferred examples of the compound represented by formula (4) include formulas (4-1) to (4-52), respectively.

（式中、Ｒ^２、Ｘ^２は前記と同じ意味を表す）

(Wherein R ² and X ² represent the same meaning as described above)

Since the compounds represented by the formulas (2) to (4), that is, the component B, have a positive dielectric anisotropy value and are very excellent in thermal stability and chemical stability, they are used for TFTs. It is used when preparing a liquid crystal composition. The content of component B in the liquid crystal composition of the present invention is suitably in the range of 1 to 99% by weight with respect to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition, preferably 10 to 97% by weight, more preferably 40 to 95% by weight. It is. The viscosity can be adjusted by further containing a compound (component E) represented by formulas (11) to (13).
Preferred examples of the compound represented by formula (5), that is, component C include formulas (5-1) to (5-62).

（これらの式において、Ｒ^３およびＸ^３は前記と同じ意味である）

(In these formulas, R ³ and X ³ have the same meaning as above)

  The compound represented by the formula (5), that is, the component C has a positive dielectric anisotropy value and a very large value. By containing this component C, the composition driving voltage can be reduced. Further, the viscosity, the refractive index anisotropy value, and the liquid crystal phase temperature range can be expanded.

  The content of component C is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 99.9% by weight, more preferably in the range of 10 to 97% by weight, and still more preferably in the range of 40 to 95% by weight with respect to the total amount of the composition. . Moreover, the threshold voltage, the liquid crystal phase temperature range, the refractive index anisotropy value, the dielectric anisotropy value, the viscosity, and the like can be adjusted by mixing the components described later.

  Component D comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of formulas (6) to (10) is a preferred component when preparing the liquid crystal composition of the present invention having a negative dielectric anisotropy.

  As preferred examples of the compounds (component D) represented by the formulas (6) to (10), formulas (6-1) to (6-5), formulas (7-1) to (7-9), Examples include formulas (8-1) to (8-3) and formulas (10-1) to (10-11).

（式中、Ｒ^４，Ｒ^５は前記と同じ意味を表す）

(Wherein R ⁴ and R ⁵ represent the same meaning as described above)

  These compounds of component D are mainly used in liquid crystal compositions having a negative dielectric anisotropy value. Since the compound represented by the formula (6) among the component D is a bicyclic compound, there is mainly an effect of adjusting the threshold voltage, adjusting the viscosity, or adjusting the refractive index anisotropy value. Further, since the compounds represented by the formulas (7) and (8) are tricyclic compounds, the clearing point is increased, the temperature range of the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase is increased, and the refractive index anisotropy is increased. Effects such as increasing the value can be obtained. Since the compounds represented by the formulas (9) and (10) have a negative dielectric anisotropy value, they are mainly effective in adjusting the driving voltage.

  When preparing a composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy value, the content of component D is preferably 40% by weight or more, more preferably 50 to 95% by weight, based on the total amount of the composition. Range. Further, by mixing the component D, it is possible to control the elastic constant and control the voltage transmittance curve of the composition. When component D is mixed with a composition having a positive dielectric anisotropy value, the content is preferably 30% by weight or less based on the total amount of the composition.

  Preferable examples of the compound (component E) represented by the formulas (11), (12) and (13) are the formulas (11-1) to (11-11) and the formulas (12-1) to (12-18), respectively. ) And formulas (13-1) to (13-6).

（式中、Ｒ^６およびＲ^７は前記と同じ意味を表す）

(Wherein R ⁶ and R ⁷ represent the same meaning as described above)

  The compound (component E) represented by the formulas (11) to (13) is a compound having a small absolute value of dielectric anisotropy and close to neutrality. The compound represented by the formula (11) has an effect of mainly adjusting the viscosity or adjusting the refractive index anisotropy value, and the compounds represented by the formulas (12) and (13) are optical elements such as increasing the clearing point. In particular, there is an effect of expanding the temperature range of the isotropic liquid crystal phase, or an effect of adjusting the refractive index anisotropy value.

When the content of the compound represented by component E is increased, the driving voltage of the liquid crystal composition is increased and the viscosity is lowered. Therefore, it is desirable that the content is large as long as the required value of the driving voltage of the liquid crystal composition is satisfied. When preparing a liquid crystal composition for TFT, the content of component E is preferably 60% by weight or less, more preferably 40% by weight or less based on the total amount of the composition.
The liquid crystal composition of the present invention preferably contains at least one compound represented by the formula (1) of the present invention in a proportion of 0.1 to 99% by weight in order to develop excellent characteristics.

  The liquid crystal composition of the present invention is generally prepared by a known method, for example, a method of dissolving necessary components at a high temperature.

3 Compounds (15) to (19)
A third aspect of the present invention is a liquid crystal composition obtained by adding a component selected from components F and G shown below to component A.

  As a component added to component A, component F consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the above formulas (15), (16), (17) and (18), or a group consisting of the above formula (19) What mixed the component G which consists of at least 1 sort (s) of compound chosen from these is preferable.

  In addition, each component of the liquid crystal composition used in the present invention is not greatly different in physical properties even if it is an analog composed of an isotope element of each element.

  Among the components F, Formulas (15-1) to (15-8) are preferred examples of the compound represented by Formula (15), and Formula (16-1) is a preferred example of the compound represented by Formula (16). ) To (16-26) and preferred examples of the compound represented by formula (17) include formulas (17-1) to (17-52), respectively.

（式中、Ｒ⁸、Ｘ⁴は前記と同じ意味を表し、（Ｆ）は水素またはフッ素を表す。）

(Wherein R ⁸ and X ⁴ represent the same meaning as described above, and (F) represents hydrogen or fluorine.)

  Since the compounds represented by the formulas (15) to (18), that is, the component F, have a positive dielectric anisotropy value and are very large, and have excellent thermal stability and chemical stability. It is suitable for preparing a liquid crystal composition for active driving such as TFT driving. The content of component F in the liquid crystal composition of the present invention is suitably in the range of 1 to 99% by weight, preferably 10 to 97% by weight, more preferably 40 to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. It is. The viscosity can be adjusted by further containing a compound (component E) represented by formulas (11) to (13).

  Preferred examples of the compound represented by formula (19), that is, component G, include formulas (19-1) to (19-37).

（これらの式において、Ｒ^９およびＸ^５は前記と同じ意味である）

(In these formulas, R ⁹ and X ⁵ have the same meaning as above)

  Since the compound represented by the formula (19), that is, the component G has a positive dielectric anisotropy value and a very large value, it is an element driven in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, PDLCD, PNLCD It is mainly used for lowering the driving voltage of elements such as PSCLCD. By containing this component G, the driving voltage of the composition can be reduced. Further, the viscosity, the refractive index anisotropy value, and the liquid crystal phase temperature range can be expanded. It can also be used to improve steepness.

  The content of component G is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 99.9% by weight, more preferably in the range of 10 to 97% by weight, and still more preferably in the range of 40 to 95% by weight with respect to the total amount of the composition. .

4 Composition having optically isotropic liquid crystal phase
4.1 Composition of Composition Having Optically Isotropic Liquid Crystal Phase A fourth aspect of the present invention is a composition comprising a compound represented by formula (1) and a chiral agent, and is optically equivalent. It is a liquid crystal composition that can be used for an optical element driven in a isotropic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal composition is a composition that exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.
The chiral agent is preferably contained in an amount of 1 to 40% by weight, more preferably 3 to 25% by weight, and most preferably 5 to 15% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal composition containing a chiral agent in these ranges is preferable because it tends to have an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.
The chiral agent contained in the liquid crystal composition may be one type or two or more types.

4.2 Chiral agent As the chiral agent contained in the optically isotropic liquid crystal composition, a compound having a large helical twisting power is preferable. A compound having a large torsional force can reduce the amount of addition necessary for obtaining a desired pitch, and therefore, an increase in driving voltage can be suppressed, which is practically advantageous. Specifically, compounds represented by the above formulas (K1) to (K5) are preferable.

式（Ｋ１）〜（Ｋ５）中、Ｒ^Ｋは独立に、水素、ハロゲン、−Ｃ≡Ｎ、−Ｎ＝Ｃ＝Ｏ、−Ｎ＝Ｃ＝Ｓまたは炭素数１〜２０のアルキルであり、このアルキル中の任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、このアルキル中の任意の水素はハロゲンで置き換えられてもよく；Ａは独立に、芳香族性あるいは非芳香族性の３ないし８員環、または、炭素数９以上の縮合環であり、これらの環の任意の水素がハロゲン、炭素数１〜３のアルキルまたはハロアルキルで置き換えられてもよく、−ＣＨ_２−は−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−または−ＮＨ−で置き換えられてもよく、−ＣＨ＝は−Ｎ＝で置き換えられてもよく；Ｚは独立に、単結合、炭素数１〜８のアルキレンであるが、任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＳＯ−、−ＯＣＳ−、−Ｎ＝Ｎ−、−ＣＨ＝Ｎ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−、−ＣＦ＝ＣＦ−または−Ｃ≡Ｃ−で置き換えられてもよく、任意の水素はハロゲンで置き換えられてもよく；Ｘは単結合、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＣＨ_２Ｏ−、−ＯＣＨ_２−、−ＣＦ_２Ｏ−、−ＯＣＦ_２−、−ＣＨ_２ＣＨ_２−であり；ｍＫは１〜４である。

In formulas (K1) to (K5), R ^K is independently hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═O, —N═C═S, or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, Any —CH ₂ — in the alkyl may be replaced with —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF— or —C≡C—. Any hydrogen in the alkyl may be replaced by halogen; A is independently an aromatic or non-aromatic 3- to 8-membered ring or a condensed ring having 9 or more carbon atoms; well of any hydrogen halide rings be substituted with alkyl or haloalkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, -CH ₂ - is -O -, - may be replaced by S- or -NH-, -CH = May be replaced by -N =; Z is independently a single bond, having 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Is a alkylene, arbitrary _-CH 2 -, -O -, - S -, - COO -, - OCO -, - CSO -, - OCS -, - N = N -, - CH = N -, - N═CH—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF— or —C≡C— may be substituted, and any hydrogen may be substituted with halogen; X is a single bond, —COO—, _{-OCO -, - CH 2 O -} , - OCH 2 -, - CF 2 O -, - OCF 2 -, - CH 2 CH 2 - and are; mK is 1-4.

  Among these, as the chiral agent added to the liquid crystal composition, the formula (K2-1) to the formula (K2-8) included in the formula (K2) and the formula (K5- 1) to formula (K5-3) are preferred.

（式中、Ｒ^Ｋは独立に、炭素数３〜１０のアルキルであり、このアルキル中の環に隣接する−ＣＨ_２−は−Ｏ−で置き換えられてもよく、任意の−ＣＨ_２−は、−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−で置き換えられてもよい。）。

(In the formula, R ^K is independently an alkyl having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and —CH ₂ — adjacent to the ring in this alkyl may be replaced by —O—, and any —CH ₂ — , -CH = CH- may be substituted).

4.3 The optically isotropic liquid crystal phase liquid crystal composition is optically isotropic. Although the liquid crystal molecular alignment is isotropic macroscopically, it is optically isotropic. Microscopically, it means that liquid crystal order exists. “Pitch based on microscopic order of liquid crystal composition (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as pitch)” is preferably 700 nm or less, more preferably 500 nm or less, and 350 nm or less. Is most preferred.

  Here, the “non-liquid crystal isotropic phase” is a generally defined isotropic phase, that is, a disordered phase, and even if a region where the local order parameter is not zero is generated, the cause is due to fluctuations. Isotropic phase. For example, an isotropic phase appearing on the high temperature side of the nematic phase corresponds to a non-liquid crystal isotropic phase in this specification. The same definition shall apply to the chiral liquid crystal in this specification. In this specification, the “optically isotropic liquid crystal phase” refers to a phase that expresses an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase instead of fluctuations, for example, a phase that expresses a platelet structure (in a narrow sense). Blue phase) is an example.

  In the optically isotropic liquid crystal composition of the present invention, although it is an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, a platelet structure typical of a blue phase may not be observed under a polarizing microscope. Therefore, in this specification, a phase that develops a platelet structure is referred to as a blue phase, and an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase including the blue phase is referred to as an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. That is, the blue phase is included in the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

In general, blue phases are classified into three types (blue phase I, blue phase II, blue phase III), and these three types of blue phases are all optically active and isotropic. In the blue phase I or blue phase II, two or more types of diffracted light caused by Bragg reflection from different lattice planes are observed. The blue phase is generally observed between the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase and the chiral nematic phase.
The state in which the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase does not show diffracted light of two or more colors means that the platelet structure observed in the blue phase I and the blue phase II is not observed and is generally monochromatic. To do. In an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase that does not show diffracted light of two or more colors, it is not necessary until the color brightness is uniform in the plane.

An optically isotropic liquid crystal phase that does not show diffracted light of two or more colors has an advantage that the reflected light intensity due to Bragg reflection can be suppressed or shifted to the lower wavelength side.
In addition, the liquid crystal material that reflects visible light may have a problem of color when used as a display element. However, in a liquid crystal that does not exhibit diffracted light of two or more colors, the reflection wavelength is shifted by a low wavelength. Therefore, the reflection of visible light can be eliminated at a pitch longer than the narrowly defined blue phase (phase that expresses the platelet structure).

  The optically isotropic liquid crystal composition of the present invention can be obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition having a nematic phase. At this time, the chiral agent is preferably added at a concentration such that the pitch is 700 nm or less. In addition, the composition which has a nematic phase contains the compound represented by Formula (1) and another component as needed. The optically isotropic liquid crystal composition of the present invention can also be obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition having a chiral nematic phase and not having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. . In addition, the composition which has a chiral nematic phase and does not have an optically isotropic liquid crystal contains the compound represented by Formula (1), an optically active compound, and other components as needed. At this time, the optically active compound is preferably added at a concentration such that the pitch is 700 nm or more so as not to develop an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. Here, the optically active compound to be added is a compound (K1) to (K5), a formula (K2-1) to (K2-8) or a formula (K5-1) to (K The compound represented by K5-3) can be used. The optically active compound to be added may be a compound that does not have a very large twisting force. Examples of such an optically active compound include a compound added to a liquid crystal composition for an element (TN mode, STN mode, etc.) driven in a nematic phase.

The following optically active compounds (Op-1) to (Op-13) can be given as examples of optically active compounds that do not have a large twisting force.

  The temperature range of the optically isotropic liquid crystal composition of the present invention is such that a chiral agent is added to a liquid crystal composition having a wide coexistence temperature range of a nematic phase or a chiral nematic phase and an isotropic phase, and the optical It can be widened by developing an isotropic liquid crystal phase. For example, a liquid crystal compound having a high clearing point and a liquid crystal compound having a low clearing point are mixed to prepare a liquid crystal composition having a wide coexisting temperature range of a nematic phase and an isotropic phase over a wide temperature range, and a chiral agent is added thereto. Thus, a composition that exhibits an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase in a wide temperature range can be prepared.

  As the liquid crystal composition having a wide coexistence temperature range of the nematic phase or the chiral nematic phase and the isotropic phase, the difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the chiral nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist is 3 to 150 ° C. A liquid crystal composition is preferable, and a liquid crystal composition having a difference of 5 to 150 ° C. is more preferable. Further, a liquid crystal composition having a difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist is 3 to 150 ° C.

When an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal medium of the present invention in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, electric birefringence occurs, but the Kerr effect is not necessarily required.
Since the electrical birefringence in the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase increases as the pitch increases, the type and content of the chiral agent can be adjusted as long as the requirements of other optical properties (transmittance, diffraction wavelength, etc.) are satisfied. Thus, the electric birefringence can be increased by setting the pitch long.

4.4 Other Components The optically isotropic liquid crystal composition of the present invention may be further added with other compounds such as a polymer substance as long as the properties of the composition are not affected. The liquid crystal composition of the present invention may contain, for example, a dichroic dye and a photochromic compound in addition to the polymer substance. Examples of dichroic dyes include merocyanine, styryl, azo, azomethine, azoxy, quinophthalone, anthraquinone, and tetrazine.

5. Optically Isotropic Polymer / Liquid Crystal Composite Material A fifth aspect of the present invention is a composite material of a liquid crystal composition and a polymer containing a compound represented by formula (1) and a chiral agent, and optically Isotropic. This is an optically isotropic polymer / liquid crystal composite material that can be used in an optical element driven in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. Such a polymer / liquid crystal composite material is composed of, for example, the liquid crystal composition (liquid crystal composition B) according to the items [1] to [31] and a polymer.
The “polymer / liquid crystal composite material” of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a composite material containing both a liquid crystal material and a polymer compound, but part or all of the polymer is dissolved in the liquid crystal material. The polymer may be in a state of being phase-separated from the liquid crystal material. In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, a nematic phase means a nematic phase in a narrow sense that does not include a chiral nematic phase.

  The optically isotropic polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can exhibit an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase in a wide temperature range. Further, the polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has an extremely fast response speed. Moreover, the polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be suitably used for an optical element such as a display element based on these effects.

5.2 Polymer The composite material of the present invention can be produced by mixing an optically isotropic liquid crystal composition and a polymer obtained by polymerizing in advance, but it is a low polymer material. It is preferably produced by mixing a monomer having a molecular weight, a macromonomer, an oligomer, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as “monomer etc.”) and the liquid crystal composition B, and then performing a polymerization reaction in the mixture. In the present specification, a mixture containing a monomer or the like and a liquid crystal composition is referred to as a “polymerizable monomer / liquid crystal mixture”. The “polymerizable monomer / liquid crystal mixture” includes a polymerization initiator, a curing agent, a catalyst, a stabilizer, a dichroic dye, or a photochromic compound, which will be described later, as necessary, as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. But you can. For example, the polymerizable monomer / liquid crystal mixture of the present invention may contain 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of a polymerization initiator with respect to 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable monomer, if necessary.

  The polymerization temperature is preferably a temperature at which the polymer / liquid crystal composite material exhibits high transparency and isotropic properties. More preferably, the polymerization is terminated at a temperature at which the mixture of the monomer and the liquid crystal material develops an isotropic phase or a blue phase, and at the isotropic phase or the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. That is, after polymerization, the polymer / liquid crystal composite material is preferably set to a temperature that does not substantially scatter light on the longer wavelength side than visible light and develops an optically isotropic state.

As the polymer raw material constituting the composite material of the present invention, for example, a low molecular weight monomer, macromonomer, and oligomer can be used. In this specification, the high molecular weight raw material monomer is a low molecular weight monomer, macromonomer. , Used to include oligomers and the like. In addition, it is preferable that the obtained polymer has a three-dimensional crosslinked structure. Therefore, it is preferable to use a polyfunctional monomer having two or more polymerizable functional groups as a raw material monomer for the polymer. The polymerizable functional group is not particularly limited, and an acrylic group, a methacryl group, a glycidyl group, an epoxy group, an oxetanyl group, a vinyl group, and the like can be raised, but an acrylic group and a methacryl group are preferable from the viewpoint of polymerization rate. When a monomer having two or more polymerizable functional groups in the polymer raw material monomer is contained in an amount of 10% by weight or more, high transparency and isotropy are easily exhibited in the composite material of the present invention. This is preferable.
In order to obtain a suitable composite material, the polymer preferably has a mesogen moiety, and a raw material monomer having a mesogen moiety can be used as a part or all of the polymer as a polymer raw material monomer.

5.2.1 Monofunctional / bifunctional monomer having a mesogen moiety The monofunctional or bifunctional monomer having a mesogen moiety is not particularly limited in terms of structure. For example, the following formula (M1) or (M2) The compound represented by these can be mentioned.

R ^a -Y- (A ^M -Z ^M ) _m1 -A ^M -Y-R ^b (M1)
_{^{R b -Y- (A M -Z M}} ) m1 -A M -Y-R b (M2)

In formula (M1), each R ^a is independently hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═O, —N═C═S, or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons. In alkyl, any —CH ₂ — is replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, or —C≡C—. In these alkyls, any hydrogen may be replaced with halogen or —C≡N. R ^b is each independently a polymerizable group of formula (M3-1) to formula (M3-7).

Preferred R ^a is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —CF ₃ , —CF ₂ H, —CFH ₂ , —OCF ₃ , —OCF ₂ H, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, or alkyl having 1 to 19 carbons. Alkoxy, alkenyl having 2 to 21 carbons, and alkynyl having 2 to 21 carbons. Particularly preferred R ^a is —C≡N, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons and alkoxy having 1 to 19 carbons.

In formula (M2), R ^b is each independently a polymerizable group of formulas (M3-1) to (M3-7).

Here, R ^d in formulas (M3-1) to (M3-7) is each independently hydrogen, halogen, or alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and in these alkyls, arbitrary hydrogen is replaced with halogen. May be. Preferred R ^d is hydrogen, halogen and methyl. Particularly preferred R ^d is hydrogen, fluorine and methyl.
In addition, the formula (M3-2), formula (M3-3), formula (M3-4), and formula (M3-7) are preferably polymerized by radical polymerization. The formula (M3-1), formula (M3-5), and formula (M3-6) are preferably polymerized by cationic polymerization. Since both are living polymerizations, the polymerization starts when a small amount of radicals or cationic active species are generated in the reaction system. A polymerization initiator can be used for the purpose of accelerating the generation of active species. For example, light or heat can be used to generate the active species.

In formulas (M1) and (M2), A ^M is each independently an aromatic or non-aromatic 5-membered ring, 6-membered ring, or condensed ring having 9 or more carbon atoms. CH ₂ — may be —O—, —S—, —NH—, or —NCH ₃ —, and —CH═ in the ring may be replaced with —N═, the hydrogen atom on the ring is halogen, and carbon number It may be replaced with 1 to 5 alkyl or halogenated alkyl. Specific examples of preferred ^{A M} are 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, 1,4-phenylene, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, fluorene -2, 7-diyl or bicyclo [2.2.2] octane-1,4-diyl, and in these rings, any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—, and any —CH═ is -N = may be substituted, and in these rings, any hydrogen may be substituted with halogen, alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or alkyl halide having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
In consideration of the stability of the compound, —CH ₂ —O—CH ₂ —O— in which oxygen and oxygen are not adjacent to each other than —CH ₂ —O—O—CH ₂ — in which oxygen and oxygen are adjacent to each other Is preferred. The same applies to sulfur.

Among these, particularly preferred ^{A M,} 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,3-difluoro-1,4 -Phenylene, 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene, 2-trifluoromethyl-1,4-phenylene, 2 , 3-bis (trifluoromethyl) -1,4-phenylene, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, fluorene-2,7-diyl, 9-methylfluorene-2,7- Diyl, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, and pyrimidine-2,5-diyl. The steric configuration of 1,4-cyclohexylene and 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl is preferably trans rather than cis.
Since 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene is structurally identical to 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, the latter was not exemplified. This rule also applies to the relationship between 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene and 3,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene.

In formulas (M1) and (M2), each Y independently represents a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and in these alkylenes, any —CH ₂ — represents —O—, —S—, — It may be replaced by CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —COO—, or —OCO—. Preferred Y is a single bond, — (CH ₂ ) _m2 —, —O (CH ₂ ) _m2 —, and — (CH ₂ ) _m2 O— (wherein r is an integer of 1 to 20). . Particularly preferred Y is a single bond, — (CH ₂ ) _m2 —, —O (CH ₂ ) _m2 —, and — (CH ₂ ) _m2 O— (wherein m2 is an integer of 1 to 10). is there. In consideration of the stability of the compound, —Y—R ^a and —Y—R ^b are in their groups —O—O—, —O—S—, —S—O—, or —S—S. It is preferable not to have −.

In formulas (M1) and (M2), Z ^M is each independently a single bond, — (CH ₂ ) _m3 —, —O (CH ₂ ) _m3 —, — (CH ₂ ) _m3 O—, —O ( CH ₂ ) _{m 3} O—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —COO—, —OCO—, — (CF ₂ ) ₂ —, — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —COO—, —OCO— (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —CH═CH—COO—, —OCO—CH═CH—, —C≡C—COO—, —OCO—C≡C—, —CH═CH— (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —C≡C—CH═CH—, —CH═CH—C≡C—, —OCF ₂ — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, — ( _{CH 2) 2 -CF 2 O -} , - is or _-CF 2 O-(in the formula, m3 is an integer of 1~20) - OCF _2.

Preferred Z ^M is a single bond, — (CH ₂ ) _{m 3} —, —O (CH ₂ ) _{m 3} —, — (CH ₂ ) _{m 3} O—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —COO—, — _{OCO -, - (CH 2)} 2 -COO -, - OCO- (CH 2) 2 -, - CH = CH-COO -, - OCO-CH = CH -, - OCF 2 -, and _-CF 2 O- It is.

In formulas (M1) and (M2), m1 is an integer of 1 to 6. Preferred m1 is an integer of 1 to 3. When m1 is 1, it is a bicyclic compound having two rings such as a 6-membered ring. When m1 is 2 or 3, they are tricyclic and tetracyclic compounds, respectively. For example, when m1 is 1, two A ^M may be may be the same or different. For example, when m1 is 2, three A ^M (or two Z ^M ) may be the same or different. The same applies when m1 is 3-6. The same applies to Ra, Rb, Rd, Z ^M , A ^M and Y.

The compound (M1) represented by the formula (M1) and the compound (M2) represented by the formula (M2) contain isotopes such as ² H (deuterium) and ¹³ C in an amount larger than the natural abundance. However, since it has the same characteristics, it can be preferably used.

More preferred examples of the compound (M1) and the compound (M2) include compounds (M1-1) to (M1-1) to (M1-41) and (M2-1) to (M2-27) (M1-41) and compounds (M2-1) to (M2-27). In these compounds, the meanings of R ^a , R ^b , R ^d , Z ^M , A ^M , Y and p are the same as those in formula (M1) and formula (M2) described in the embodiments of the present invention.

  The following partial structures of the compounds (M1-1) to (M1-41) and (M2-1) to (M2-27) will be described. The partial structure (a1) represents 1,4-phenylene in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine. The partial structure (a2) represents 1,4-phenylene in which arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine. The partial structure (a3) represents 1,4-phenylene in which arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by either fluorine or methyl. The partial structure (a4) represents fluorene in which the hydrogen at the 9-position may be replaced with methyl.

  A monomer having no mesogen moiety and a polymerizable compound other than the monomers (M1) and (M2) having a mesogen moiety can be used as necessary.

For the purpose of optimizing the optical isotropy of the polymer / liquid crystal composite material of the present invention, a monomer having a mesogenic moiety and having three or more polymerizable functional groups may be used. As the monomer having a mesogenic moiety and having three or more polymerizable functional groups, known compounds can be suitably used. For example, (M4-1) to (M4-3), and more specific examples include: Examples thereof include compounds described in JP 2000-327632 A, JP 2004-182949 A, and JP 2004-59777 A. However, in (M4-1) to (M4-3), R ^b , Za, Y, and (F) have the same meaning as described above.

5.2.2 Monomer having a polymerizable functional group not having a mesogen moiety As a monomer having a polymerizable functional group not having a mesogen moiety, for example, a linear or branched acrylate having 1 to 30 carbon atoms C 1-30 linear or branched diacrylates, monomers having three or more polymerizable functional groups include glycerol propoxylate (1PO / OH) triacrylate, pentaerythritol propoxylate triacrylate, penta Erythritol triacrylate, trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate, trimethylolpropane propoxylate triacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, di (trimethylolpropane) tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, tetraacrylate, di (pentaerythritol) pentaacrylate, di (pentaerythritol) hexaacrylate, and trimethylolpropane / triacrylate.

5.2.3 Polymerization initiator The polymerization reaction in the production of the polymer constituting the composite material of the present invention is not particularly limited, and for example, photoradical polymerization, thermal radical polymerization, photocationic polymerization and the like are performed.

  Examples of the photo radical polymerization initiator that can be used in the photo radical polymerization include DAROCUR (registered trademark) 1173 and 4265 (both trade names, Ciba Specialty Chemicals), Irgacure (IRGACURE, registered trademark). 184, 369, 500, 651, 784, 819, 907, 1300, 1700, 1800, 1850, and 2959 (all trade names, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd.).

  Examples of preferred initiators for thermal radical polymerization that can be used in thermal radical polymerization are benzoyl peroxide, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, t-butylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate, t-butylperoxypivalate , T-butylperoxydiisobutyrate, lauroyl peroxide, dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (MAIB), di-t-butyl peroxide (DTBPO), azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), azobiscyclohexanecarbox Nitrile (ACN) and the like.

  Examples of the cationic photopolymerization initiator that can be used in the cationic photopolymerization include diaryliodonium salts (hereinafter referred to as “DAS”), triarylsulfonium salts (hereinafter referred to as “TAS”), and the like.

  DAS includes diphenyliodonium tetrafluoroborate, diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphonate, diphenyliodonium hexafluoroarsenate, diphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, diphenyliodonium trifluoroacetate, diphenyliodonium-p-toluenesulfonate, diphenyliodoniumtetra (pentafluorophenyl) ) Borate, 4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium tetrafluoroborate, 4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphonate, 4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium hexafluoroarsenate, 4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-methoxypheny Phenyl iodonium trifluoroacetate, 4-methoxyphenyl phenyl iodonium -p- toluenesulfonate and the like.

  DAS can be made highly sensitive by adding a photosensitizer such as thioxanthone, phenothiazine, chlorothioxanthone, xanthone, anthracene, diphenylanthracene, and rubrene.

  TAS includes triphenylsulfonium tetrafluoroborate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphonate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroarsenate, triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium trifluoroacetate, triphenylsulfonium-p-toluenesulfonate, Triphenylsulfonium tetra (pentafluorophenyl) borate, 4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium tetrafluoroborate, 4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphonate, 4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium hexafluoroarsenate, 4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium trifluoromethane Sulfonar , 4-methoxyphenyl diphenyl sulfonium trifluoroacetate, 4-methoxyphenyl diphenyl sulfonium -p- toluenesulfonate and the like.

  Examples of specific trade names of the cationic photopolymerization initiator include Cyracure (registered trademark) UVI-6990, Cyracure UVI-6974, Cyracure UVI-6922 (trade names, UCC Co., Ltd.), Adekaoptomer SP, respectively. -150, SP-152, SP-170, SP-172 (each trade name, ADEKA Co., Ltd.), Rhodorsil Photoinitiator 2074 (trade name, Rhodia Japan Co., Ltd.), Irgacure (IRGACURE, registered trademark) 250 (trade name) , Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd.), UV-9380C (trade name, GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.).

5.2.4 Curing Agent, etc. In the production of the polymer constituting the composite material of the present invention, in addition to the monomer and the polymerization initiator, one or more other suitable components, for example, a curing agent. Catalysts, stabilizers and the like may be added.

  As the curing agent, conventionally known latent curing agents that are usually used as curing agents for epoxy resins can be used. Examples of the latent epoxy resin curing agent include amine curing agents, novolak resin curing agents, imidazole curing agents, and acid anhydride curing agents. Examples of amine curing agents include aliphatic polyamines such as diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, tetraethylenepentamine, m-xylenediamine, trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2-methylpentamethylenediamine, diethylaminopropylamine, and isophoronediamine. , Cycloaliphatic polyamines such as 1,3-bisaminomethylcyclohexane, bis (4-aminocyclohexyl) methane, norbornenediamine, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, laromine, aromatics such as diaminodiphenylmethane, diaminodiphenylethane, metaphenylenediamine Group polyamines and the like.

  Examples of novolak resin-based curing agents include phenol novolac resins and bisphenol novolac resins. Examples of the imidazole curing agent include 2-methylimidazole, 2-ethylhexylimidazole, 2-phenylimidazole, 1-cyanoethyl-2-phenylimidazolium trimellitate, and the like.

  Examples of acid anhydride curing agents include tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride, methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride, methylcyclohexene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, phthalic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride Acid, pyromellitic anhydride, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and the like can be mentioned.

  Moreover, you may further use the hardening accelerator for accelerating the hardening reaction of the polymeric compound which has a glycidyl group, an epoxy group, and an oxetanyl group, and a hardening | curing agent. Examples of the curing accelerator include tertiary amines such as benzyldimethylamine, tris (dimethylaminomethyl) phenol, dimethylcyclohexylamine, 1-cyanoethyl-2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole, and 2-ethyl-4-methyl. Imidazoles such as imidazole, organophosphorus compounds such as triphenylphosphine, quaternary phosphonium salts such as tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undecene-7, and organic acid salts thereof Examples include diazabicycloalkenes, quaternary ammonium salts such as tetraethylammonium bromide and tetrabutylammonium bromide, and boron compounds such as boron trifluoride and triphenylborate. These curing accelerators can be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

  Also, for example, a stabilizer is preferably added to prevent undesired polymerization during storage. All compounds known to those skilled in the art can be used as stabilizers. Representative examples of the stabilizer include 4-ethoxyphenol, hydroquinone, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and the like.

5.3 Content Ratio of Liquid Crystal Composition, etc. The content ratio of the liquid crystal composition in the polymer / liquid crystal composite material of the present invention is possible as long as the composite material can express an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. It is preferable that the content is as high as possible. This is because the electric birefringence value of the composite material of the present invention increases as the content of the liquid crystal composition is higher.

  In the polymer / liquid crystal composite material of the present invention, the content of the liquid crystal composition is preferably 60 to 99% by weight, more preferably 60 to 95% by weight, particularly 65 to 95% by weight based on the composite material. preferable. The content of the polymer is preferably 1 to 40% by weight, more preferably 5 to 40% by weight, and particularly preferably 5 to 35% by weight with respect to the composite material.

5.4 Other Components The polymer / liquid crystal composite material of the present invention may contain, for example, a dichroic dye and a photochromic compound as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.
EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention further in detail, this invention is not restrict | limited by these Examples. Unless otherwise specified, “%” means “% by weight”.

6 Optical Device A sixth aspect of the present invention is a liquid crystal composition or a polymer / liquid crystal composite material (hereinafter, the liquid crystal composition and polymer / liquid crystal composite material of the present invention may be collectively referred to as a liquid crystal medium). ) Including an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.
When no electric field is applied, the liquid crystal medium is optically isotropic, but when an electric field is applied, the liquid crystal medium exhibits optical anisotropy, and light modulation by the electric field becomes possible.
As an example of the structure of the liquid crystal display element, as shown in FIG. 1, there can be mentioned a structure in which electrodes of a comb-shaped electrode substrate are alternately arranged with electrodes 1 extending from the left side and electrodes 2 extending from the right side. When there is a potential difference between the electrode 1 and the electrode 2, it is possible to provide a state in which an electric field exists in two directions, an upper direction and a lower direction, on the comb-shaped electrode substrate as shown in FIG.

Since the obtained compound was identified by a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum obtained by ¹ H-NMR analysis, a gas chromatogram obtained by gas chromatography (GC) analysis, etc., the analysis method will be described first.

¹ H-NMR analysis: DRX-500 (manufactured by Bruker Biospin Co., Ltd.) was used as a measurement apparatus. The measurement was carried out by dissolving the sample produced in Examples and the like in a deuterated solvent in which a sample such as CDCl ₃ is soluble, and at room temperature under conditions of 500 MHz and 24 times of integration. In the description of the obtained nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum, s is a singlet, d is a doublet, t is a triplet, q is a quartet, and m is a multiplet. Tetramethylsilane (TMS) was used as a reference material for the zero point of the chemical shift δ value.

  GC analysis: GC-14B type gas chromatograph made by Shimadzu Corporation was used as a measuring apparatus. As the column, a capillary column CBP1-M25-025 (length 25 m, inner diameter 0.22 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm) manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation; dimethylpolysiloxane; nonpolar) was used as the stationary liquid phase. Helium was used as the carrier gas, and the flow rate was adjusted to 1 ml / min. The temperature of the sample vaporizing chamber was set to 300 ° C., and the temperature of the detector (FID) portion was set to 300 ° C.

The sample was dissolved in toluene to prepare a 1% by weight solution, and 1 μl of the resulting solution was injected into the sample vaporization chamber.
As a recorder, a C-R6A type Chromatopac manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation or an equivalent thereof was used. The obtained gas chromatogram shows the peak retention time and peak area value corresponding to the component compounds.

  As a sample dilution solvent, for example, chloroform or hexane may be used. In addition, as columns, Agilent Technologies Inc. capillary column DB-1 (length 30 m, inner diameter 0.32 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm), Agilent Technologies Inc. HP-1 (length 30 m, inner diameter 0) .32 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm), Rtx-1 from Restek Corporation (length 30 m, inner diameter 0.32 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm), BP-1 from SGE International Pty. Ltd (length 30 m, inner diameter) 0.32 mm, film thickness of 0.25 μm) or the like may be used.

  The area ratio of peaks in the gas chromatogram corresponds to the ratio of component compounds. In general, the weight% of the component compound of the analysis sample is not completely the same as the area% of each peak of the analysis sample. However, when the above-described column is used in the present invention, the correction factor is substantially 1. Therefore, the weight% of the component compound in the analysis sample substantially corresponds to the area% of each peak in the analysis sample. This is because there is no significant difference in the correction coefficients of the component liquid crystal compounds. In order to obtain the composition ratio of the liquid crystal compound in the liquid crystal composition more accurately by the gas chromatogram, an internal standard method based on the gas chromatogram is used. The liquid crystal compound component (test component) weighed in a certain amount accurately and the reference liquid crystal compound (reference material) are simultaneously measured by gas chromatography, and the area ratio between the peak of the obtained test component and the peak of the reference material Is calculated in advance. When correction is performed using the relative intensity of the peak area of each component with respect to the reference substance, the composition ratio of the liquid crystal compound in the liquid crystal composition can be determined more accurately from gas chromatography analysis.

Samples for Measuring Physical Property Values of Liquid Crystal Compounds There are two types of samples for measuring the physical property values of liquid crystal compounds: when the compound itself is used as a sample, and when the compound is mixed with mother liquid crystals as a sample.

  In the latter case using a sample in which a compound is mixed with mother liquid crystals, the measurement is performed by the following method. First, 15% by weight of the obtained liquid crystal compound and 85% by weight of the mother liquid crystal are mixed to prepare a sample. Then, an extrapolated value is calculated from the measured value of the obtained sample according to the extrapolation method based on the following calculation formula. This extrapolated value is taken as the physical property value of this compound.

<Extrapolated value> = (100 × <Measured value of sample> − <Weight% of mother liquid crystal> × <Measured value of mother liquid crystal>) / <Weight% of liquid crystal compound>

  Even when the ratio between the liquid crystal compound and the mother liquid crystal is this ratio, when the smectic phase or crystal is precipitated at 25 ° C., the ratio between the liquid crystal compound and the mother liquid crystal is 10% by weight: 90% by weight, 5% by weight. %: 95% by weight, 1% by weight: 99% by weight, and the physical properties of the sample were measured with a composition in which the smectic phase or crystals did not precipitate at 25 ° C., and extrapolated according to the above formula. This is taken as the physical property value of the liquid crystal compound.

There are various types of mother liquid crystals used for measurement. For example, the composition (% by weight) of the mother liquid crystals A is as follows.
Mother liquid crystal A:

Method for measuring physical property values of liquid crystal compounds, etc. The physical property values were measured by the method described later. Many of these measurement methods are the methods described in the Standard of Electric Industries Association of Japan EIAJ / ED-2521A or a modified method thereof. Moreover, TFT was not attached to the TN element used for the measurement.

  Among the measured values, when the liquid crystal compound itself was used as a sample, the obtained value was described as experimental data. When a mixture of a liquid crystal compound and mother liquid crystals was used as a sample, values obtained by extrapolation were described as experimental data.

Phase structure and phase transition temperature (° C.): Measurement was performed by the following methods (1) and (2).
(1) A compound is placed on a hot plate (Mettler FP-52 type hot stage) equipped with a polarizing microscope, and the phase state and its change are observed with a polarizing microscope while heating at a rate of 3 ° C./min. , Identified the type of liquid crystal phase.
(2) Using a scanning calorimeter DSC-7 system or Diamond DSC system manufactured by PerkinElmer Inc., the temperature is raised and lowered at a rate of 3 ° C./min, and the end point of the endothermic peak or exothermic peak accompanying the phase change of the sample is excluded. The phase transition temperature was determined by onset.

Hereinafter, the crystal is expressed as K, and when the crystal can be distinguished, it is expressed as K ₁ or K ₂ , respectively. The smectic phase is represented as Sm, and the nematic phase is represented as N. The liquid (isotropic) was designated as I. When the smectic phase can be distinguished from the smectic B phase or the smectic A phase, it is expressed as SmB or SmA, respectively. BP represents a blue phase or an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. The coexistence state of two phases may be expressed in the form of (N ^* + I) and (N ^* + BP). Specifically, (N ^* + I) represents a phase in which a non-liquid crystal isotropic phase and a chiral nematic phase coexist, and (N ^* + BP) represents a BP phase or an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. Represents a phase in which a chiral nematic phase coexists. Un represents an unidentified phase that is not optically isotropic. As the notation of the phase transition temperature, for example, “K 50.0 N 100.0 I” means that the phase transition temperature (KN) from the crystal to the nematic phase is 50.0 ° C., and the phase from the nematic phase to the liquid The transition temperature (NI) is 100.0 ° C. The same applies to other notations.

Maximum temperature of nematic phase (T _NI ; ° C.): A sample (mixture of liquid crystal compound and mother liquid crystal) is placed on a hot plate (Mettler FP-52 type hot stage) of a melting point measuring apparatus equipped with a polarizing microscope. The polarizing microscope was observed while heating at a rate of ° C / min. The temperature at which a part of the sample changed from a nematic phase to an isotropic liquid was defined as the upper limit temperature of the nematic phase. Hereinafter, the upper limit temperature of the nematic phase may be simply abbreviated as “upper limit temperature”.

  Low temperature compatibility: A sample in which a mother liquid crystal and a liquid crystal compound were mixed so that the liquid crystal compound was in an amount of 20% by weight, 15% by weight, 10% by weight, 5% by weight, 3% by weight, and 1% by weight. Make and place sample in glass bottle. The glass bottle was stored in a freezer at −10 ° C. or −20 ° C. for a certain period, and then it was observed whether a crystal or smectic phase was precipitated.

  Viscosity (η; measured at 20 ° C .; mPa · s): A mixture of a liquid crystal compound and a mother liquid crystal was measured using an E-type rotational viscometer.

  Refractive index anisotropy (Δn): Measurement was performed at 25 ° C. using an Abbe refractometer using light with a wavelength of 589 nm and a polarizing plate attached to the eyepiece. After rubbing the surface of the main prism in one direction, a sample (mixture of liquid crystal compound and mother liquid crystal) was dropped onto the main prism. The refractive index (n‖) was measured when the direction of polarized light was parallel to the direction of rubbing. The refractive index (n⊥) was measured when the direction of polarized light was perpendicular to the direction of rubbing. The value of refractive index anisotropy (Δn) was calculated from the equation: Δn = n∥−n⊥.

  Dielectric anisotropy (Δε; measured at 25 ° C.): Put a sample (mixture of liquid crystal compound and mother liquid crystal) into a liquid crystal cell with a gap (gap) between two glass substrates of about 9 μm and a twist angle of 80 degrees It was. 20 volts was applied to the cell, and the dielectric constant (ε 率) in the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules was measured. 0.5 V was applied, and the dielectric constant (ε⊥) in the minor axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules was measured. The value of dielectric anisotropy was calculated from the equation: Δε = ε∥−ε⊥.

Pitch (P; measured at 25 ° C .; nm)
The pitch length was measured using selective reflection (Liquid Crystal Manual 196 pages 2000, Maruzen). For the selective reflection wavelength λ, the relational expression <n> p / λ = 1 holds. Here, <n> represents an average refractive index and is given by the following equation. <n> = {(n _{|| ^{2 + n ⊥ 2) / 2}} } 1/2. The selective reflection wavelength was measured with a microspectrophotometer (JEOL Ltd., trade name MSV-350). The pitch was obtained by dividing the obtained reflection wavelength by the average refractive index. The pitch of cholesteric liquid crystals having a reflection wavelength in the longer wavelength region than visible light is proportional to the reciprocal of the concentration of the optically active compound in the region where the optically active compound concentration is low. The length was measured at several points and determined by a linear extrapolation method. The “optically active compound” corresponds to the chiral agent in the present invention.

（Ｓ１−７）

合成スキームを下図に示す。

(Synthesis Example 1)
Synthesis of 1-chloro-6- (4-pentylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl) naphthalene (S1-7)

(S1-7)

The synthesis scheme is shown in the figure below.

Synthesis of Compound (S1-2) (S1-2) was synthesized according to Synlett, No. 1; 18, 2837 (2005). To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 29.9 g of N-chlorosuccinimide and 600 ml of dichloromethane are added, cooled to 0 ° C., 2.6 g of zirconium (IV) chloride is added, and then 6-bromo-2-naphthol (S1 -1) 50 g was gradually added. After warming to room temperature and stirring for 10 h, the reaction mixture was washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate and water, dried over magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. By recrystallization using a mixed solvent of toluene / heptane = 1/1 (volume ratio), 55 g of 6-bromo-1-chloro-2-naphthol (S1-2) was obtained.

Synthesis of Compound (S1-4) To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 55 g of 6-bromo-1-chloro-2-naphthol (S1-2), 12.3 g of 4-pentylphenylboronic acid (S1-3), Tetrakistriphenylphosphinepalladium 1.0 g, sodium carbonate 13.6 g and toluene / ethanol / water = 3/3/1 mixed solvent 100 ml were added and refluxed for 10 hours. The reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, toluene was added thereto, and this was washed with 1N hydrochloric acid and water. After drying with magnesium sulfate, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The product was purified by silica gel column chromatography using toluene as a developing solvent and dried under reduced pressure to obtain 15 g of 6- (4-pentylphenyl) -1-chloro-2-naphthol (S1-4).

Synthesis of Compound (S1-5) To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 15 g of 6- (4-pentylphenyl) -1-chloro-2-naphthol (S1-4), 14 ml of pyridine and 200 ml of dichloromethane were added, and the mixture was heated to 0 ° C. After cooling, 14.3 g of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 4 hours, the reaction solution was washed with sodium bicarbonate water and water, dried over magnesium sulfate, and then the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The mixture was purified by silica gel column chromatography using a mixed solvent of heptane / toluene = 1/1 as a developing solvent and dried under reduced pressure to obtain 13.3 g (S1-5).

Synthesis of Compound (S1-7) To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 5.0 g of (S1-5), 2.9 g of 3,4,5-trifluorophenylboronic acid (S1-6), tetrakistriphenylphosphine 2.0 g of palladium, 4.2 g of potassium phosphate (K ₃ PO ₄ ) and 100 ml of dioxane were added and refluxed for 12 hours. Toluene was added to the reaction solution, which was washed with 1N hydrochloric acid and water. After drying with magnesium sulfate, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. Purified by silica gel column chromatography using a mixed solvent of heptane / toluene = 9/1 as a developing solvent, then recrystallized using a mixed solvent of ethanol / ethyl acetate = 4/1 and dried under reduced pressure. 1.8 g of 1-chloro-6- (4-pentylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl) naphthalene (S1-7) was obtained.

The phase transition temperature of the obtained compound (S1-7) was as follows.
Phase transition temperature (° C.): K 116.5 (SmA 111.4) N 126.1 I.

The chemical shift δ (ppm) of ¹ H-NMR analysis is as follows, and the obtained compound was 1-chloro-6- (4-pentylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl). ) Naphthalene (S1-7) was identified. The measurement solvent is CDCl ₃ . Chemical shift δ (ppm); 8.42 (d, 1H), 8.06 (d, 1H), 7.93-7.91 (dd, 1H), 7.85 (d, 1H), 7.66 (D, 2H), 7.38 (d, 1H), 7.33 (d, 2H), 7.17-7.14 (m, 2H), 2.68 (t, 2H), 1.69- 1.66 (m, 2H), 1.38-1.35 (m, 4H), 0.92 (t, 3H).

Physical Properties of Liquid Crystal Compound (S1-7) Four compounds described as mother liquid crystal A described above were mixed to prepare mother liquid crystal A having a nematic phase. The physical properties of the mother liquid crystal A were as follows.
Maximum temperature (T _NI ) = 71.7 ° C .; dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) = 11.0; refractive index anisotropy (Δn) = 0.137.

85% by weight of mother liquid crystals A and 15% by weight of 1-chloro-6- (4-pentylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl) naphthalene (S1-7) obtained in Example 1 % Liquid crystal composition B was prepared. The physical property value of the obtained liquid crystal composition B was measured, and the extrapolated value of the physical property of the liquid crystal compound (S1-7) was calculated by extrapolating the measured value. The values were as follows:
Maximum temperature (T _NI ) = 104.4 ° C .; dielectric anisotropy (Δε) = 22.7; refractive index anisotropy (Δn) = 0.230.
For these reasons, the liquid crystal compound (S1-7) has excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, has a high maximum temperature (T _NI ), and has a dielectric anisotropy (Δε) and a refractive index difference. It was found to be a compound having a large isotropic (Δn).

（Ｓ−３） (Synthesis Example 2)
Synthesis of 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl) naphthalene (S-3)

(S-3)

Synthesis of Compound (S-3) Using the same synthesis method as in Example 1, 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl) naphthalene (S- 3) was synthesized. (S1-2) 3.1g was obtained from 11.4g. The phase transition temperature of the obtained compound (S-3) was as follows.
Phase transition temperature (° C.): K (110 SmA 121 N 135) 142 I.

The chemical shift δ (ppm) of ¹ H-NMR analysis is as follows, and the obtained compound is 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl). ) Naphthalene (S-3) was identified. The measurement solvent is CDCl ₃ . Chemical shift δ (ppm); 8.43 (d, 1H), 8.07 (d, 1H), 7.94-7.92 (dd, 1H), 7.86 (d, 1H), 7.67 (D, 2H), 7.39 (d, 1H), 7.33 (d, 2H), 7.18-7.15 (m, 2H), 2.67 (t, 2H), 1.74- 1.69 (m, 2H), 1.00 (t, 3H).

Physical Properties of Liquid Crystal Compound (S-3) Four compounds described as the mother liquid crystal A described above were mixed to prepare a mother liquid crystal A having a nematic phase. The physical properties of the mother liquid crystal A were as follows.
Maximum temperature (T _NI ) = 71.7 ° C .; dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) = 11.0; refractive index anisotropy (Δn) = 0.137.

85% by weight of mother liquid crystals A and 10% of 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- (3,4,5-trifluorophenyl) naphthalene (S-3) obtained in Example 3 % Liquid crystal composition C was prepared. The physical property value of the obtained liquid crystal composition C was measured, and the extrapolated value of the physical property of the liquid crystal compound (S-3) was calculated by extrapolating the measured value. The values were as follows:
Maximum temperature (T _NI ) = 100.7 ° C .; dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) = 25.7; refractive index anisotropy (Δn) = 0.237.
From these facts, it was found that the liquid crystal compound (S-3) was a compound having a high maximum temperature (T _NI ) and a large dielectric anisotropy (Δε) and refractive index anisotropy (Δn). .

（Ｓ５−４）
合成スキームを下図に示す。

(Synthesis Example 3)
Synthesis of 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5-fluorophenoxy) methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S5-4)

(S5-4)
The synthesis scheme is shown in the figure below.

Synthesis of Compound (S5-1) 1-Chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- (3,5-difluorophenyl) naphthalene (S5-1) was synthesized according to the method of Example 1. did. 9.3 g of (S5-1) was obtained from 26.5 g of (S1-2).

Synthesis of Compound (S5-2) To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 9.3 g of Compound (S5-1) and 100 ml of THF were added and cooled to -74 ° C. Thereto, 18 ml of a 1.60 M n-butyllithium / n-hexane solution was dropped in a temperature range of −74 ° C. to −60 ° C., and further stirred for 60 minutes. Subsequently, a solution of 6.95 g of dibromodifluoromethane in 20.0 ml of THF was dropped in a temperature range of −75 ° C. to −70 ° C. and stirred for 60 minutes while returning to 25 ° C. The obtained reaction mixture was poured into 150 ml of ice water and mixed. Toluene (100 ml) was added to separate the organic layer from the aqueous layer and extraction was performed. The resulting organic layer was separated, washed with brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The obtained solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by a fractionation operation by silica gel column chromatography using a mixed solvent of heptane / toluene = 4/1 as a developing solvent. The solvent was distilled off and dried to obtain 10.4 g of 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- [4-bromodifluoromethyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S5-2).

Synthesis of Compound (S5-4) To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 2.7 g of Compound (S5-2), 0.8 g of 3,4,5-trifluorophenol, 3.5 g of potassium carbonate, N, N-dimethyl 50 ml of formamide (DMF) was added and stirred at 90 ° C. for 120 minutes. After returning the reaction mixture to 25 ° C., the mixture was poured into 50 ml of ice water and mixed, and 100 ml of toluene was added to separate the organic layer and the aqueous layer, and the organic layer obtained was extracted, followed by saturated sodium bicarbonate. The extract was washed successively with an aqueous solution, a 0.5N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The resulting solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by a preparative operation by silica gel column chromatography using a mixed solvent of heptane / ethyl acetate as a developing solvent. Further, the product was purified by recrystallization from a mixed solvent of heptane / Solmix A-11, dried, and 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5-fluorophenoxy). ) Methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S5-4) 1.8 g was obtained.

The phase transition temperature of the obtained compound (S5-4) was as follows.
Phase transition temperature: K 133.6 N 200.0 I.

The chemical shift δ (ppm) of ¹ H-NMR analysis is as follows, and the obtained compound is 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5). -Fluorophenoxy) methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S5-4). The measurement solvent is CDCl ₃ .

  Chemical shift δ (ppm); 8.44 (d, 1H), 8.08 (d, 1H), 7.95-7.93 (dd, 1H), 7.89 (d, 1H), 7.67 (D, 2H), 7.39 (d, 1H), 7.33 (d, 2H), 7.20 (d, 2H), 7.04 to 7.01 (m, 2H), 2.67 ( t, 2H), 1.73-1.69 (m, 2H), 1.00 (t, 3H).

Physical property of liquid crystal compound (S5-4) 85% by weight of mother liquid crystal A and 1-chloro-6- (4-propylphenyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5-) obtained in Example 5 A liquid crystal composition D comprising 5% by weight of (fluorophenoxy) methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S5-4) was prepared. The physical property value of the obtained liquid crystal composition D was measured, and the extrapolated value of the physical property of the liquid crystal compound (No.) was calculated by extrapolating the measured value. The values were as follows:
Maximum temperature (T _NI ) = 133.7 ° C .; dielectric anisotropy (Δε) = 39.7; refractive index anisotropy (Δn) = 0.237.
From these facts, it was found that the liquid crystal compound (S5-4) is a compound having a high maximum temperature (T _NI ) and a large dielectric anisotropy (Δε) and refractive index anisotropy (Δn). .

（Ｓ７−８） (Synthesis Example 4)
Synthesis of 1-chloro-6- (1-pentynyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5-fluorophenoxy) methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S7-8)

(S7-8)

The synthesis scheme is shown in the figure below.

Synthesis of Compound (S7-3) (S7-3) was synthesized according to Synthesis, No. 1; 9, 1439 (2004). To a reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere, 38.3 g of 1-chloro-6-bromo-2-naphthol (S1-2), 5.2 g of PdCl ₂ (PPh ₃ ) ₂ , 0.71 g of copper iodide, and 400 ml of triethylamine were added. The mixture was added and stirred at room temperature, and then 35.8 g of 1-heptin (S7-2) was added and refluxed for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, ethyl acetate was added to the residue, and the mixture was filtered through celite. The solution was washed with 1N hydrochloric acid and water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography using heptane / ethyl acetate = 3/1 as a developing solvent, dried under reduced pressure, and 1-chloro-6- (1-pentynyl). ) -2-Naphthol (S7-3) 32.3 g was obtained.

Synthesis of Compound (S7-6) The synthesis of (S7-6) from (S7-3) was according to the method of synthesizing (S1-7) from (S1-4) of Example 1. (S7-3) 1.8g of (S7-6) was obtained from 32.3g.

Synthesis of Compound (S7-8) The synthesis of (S7-8) from (S7-6) was according to the method of synthesizing (S5-1) to (S5-4) in Example 5. 0.4 g of (S7-8) was obtained from 1.7 g of (S7-6).

The phase transition temperature of the obtained compound (S7-8) was as follows.
Phase transition temperature (° C): K 61.7 I.

The chemical shift δ (ppm) of ¹ H-NMR analysis is as follows, and the obtained compound is 1-chloro-6- (1-pentynyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5- Fluorophenoxy) methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S7-8). The measurement solvent is CDCl ₃ .

  Chemical shift δ (ppm); 8.29 (d, 1H), 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.77 (d, 1H), 7.65-7.62 (dd, 1H), 7.37 (D, 1H), 7.17 (d, 2H), 7.03 to 7.00 (m, 2H), 2.48 (t, 2H), 1.68-1.65 (m, 2H), 1.49-1.45 (m, 2H), 1.42-1.37 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, 3H).

Physical property of liquid crystal compound (S7-8) 85% by weight of liquid crystal A and 1-chloro-6- (1-pentynyl) -2- [4-difluoro (3,4,5-fluoro) obtained in Example 7 A liquid crystal composition E comprising 15% by weight of phenoxy) methyl-3,5-difluorophenyl] naphthalene (S7-8) was prepared. The physical property value of the obtained liquid crystal composition E was measured, and the extrapolated value of the physical property of the liquid crystal compound (No. 1-7C-4) was calculated by extrapolating the measured value. The values were as follows:
Maximum temperature (T _NI ) = 47.0 ° C .; dielectric anisotropy (Δε) = 34.7; refractive index anisotropy (Δn) = 0.20.
From these facts, the liquid crystal compound (S7-8) has excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds and has a low dielectric constant anisotropy (Δε), refraction, although the maximum temperature (T _NI ) is low. It was found to be a compound having a large rate anisotropy (Δn).

(Composition of the present invention)
In the present invention, the characteristic value of the liquid crystal composition can be measured according to the following method. Many of them are the method described in the Standard of Electric Industries Association of Japan EIAJ ED-2521A or a modified method thereof. No TFT was attached to the TN device used for measurement.

  Maximum temperature of nematic phase (NI; ° C.): A sample was placed on a hot plate of a melting point measuring apparatus equipped with a polarizing microscope and heated at a rate of 1 ° C./min. The temperature was measured when a part of the sample changed from a nematic phase to an isotropic liquid. The upper limit temperature of the nematic phase may be abbreviated as “upper limit temperature”.

Minimum temperature of nematic phase (T _C ; ° C.): A sample having a nematic phase is stored in a freezer at 0 ° C., −10 ° C., −20 ° C., −30 ° C., and −40 ° C. Observed. For example, when the sample remains in a nematic phase at −20 ° C. and changes to a crystal (or smectic phase) at −30 ° C., T _C is described as ≦ −20 ° C. The lower limit temperature of the nematic phase may be abbreviated as “lower limit temperature”.

  Optically isotropic liquid crystal phase transition temperature: Place the sample on the hot plate of a melting point measurement device equipped with a polarizing microscope, and in the crossed Nicols state, the sample was first heated to a temperature at which the sample becomes an isotropic liquid crystal phase Thereafter, the temperature was lowered at a rate of 1 ° C./min, and a completely chiral nematic phase or an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase appeared. The temperature at which the phase transition in the temperature lowering process was measured, then the temperature was increased at a rate of 1 ° C./min, and the temperature at which the phase transition in the temperature rising process was measured. In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the phase transition temperature in the temperature raising process is defined as the phase transition temperature. In the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase, when it was difficult to distinguish the phase transition temperature in the dark field under crossed Nicols, the phase transition temperature was measured by shifting the polarizing plate by 1 to 10 ° from the crossed Nicols state.

  Viscosity (η; measured at 20 ° C .; mPa · s): An E-type viscometer was used for measurement.

Rotational viscosity (γ1; measured at 25 ° C .; mPa · s):
1) Sample with positive dielectric anisotropy: Measurement was performed according to the method described in M. Imai et al., Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol. 259, 37 (1995). A sample was put in a TN device having a twist angle of 0 ° and a distance (cell gap) between two glass substrates of 5 μm. The voltage was applied to the TN device stepwise in the range of 16 to 19.5 volts every 0.5 volts. After no application for 0.2 seconds, the application was repeated under the condition of only one rectangular wave (rectangular pulse; 0.2 seconds) and no application (2 seconds). The peak current and peak time of the transient current generated by this application were measured. The value of rotational viscosity was obtained from these measured values and the paper by M. Imai et al., Formula (8) on page 40. The value of dielectric anisotropy necessary for this calculation was obtained by the following dielectric anisotropy measurement method using the element used for the measurement of the rotational viscosity.

2) Sample with negative dielectric anisotropy: Measurement was performed according to the method described in M. Imai et al., Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol. 259, 37 (1995). A sample was put in a VA device having a distance (cell gap) between two glass substrates of 20 μm. This element was applied stepwise in increments of 1 volt in the range of 30 to 50 volts. After no application for 0.2 seconds, the application was repeated under the condition of only one rectangular wave (rectangular pulse; 0.2 seconds) and no application (2 seconds). The peak current and peak time of the transient current generated by this application were measured. The value of rotational viscosity was obtained from these measured values and the paper by M. Imai et al., Formula (8) on page 40. As the dielectric anisotropy necessary for this calculation, a value measured by the following dielectric anisotropy was used.

  Refractive index anisotropy (Δn; measured at 25 ° C.): The measurement was performed with an Abbe refractometer using light with a wavelength of 589 nm and a polarizing plate attached to the eyepiece. After rubbing the surface of the main prism in one direction, the sample was dropped on the main prism. The refractive index (n‖) was measured when the direction of polarized light was parallel to the direction of rubbing. The refractive index (n⊥) was measured when the direction of polarized light was perpendicular to the direction of rubbing. The value of refractive index anisotropy was calculated from the equation: Δn = n∥−n⊥. When the sample was a composition, the refractive index anisotropy was measured by this method. When the sample was a compound, the refractive index anisotropy was measured after mixing the compound with an appropriate composition. The refractive index anisotropy of the compound is an extrapolated value.

Dielectric Anisotropy (Δε; measured at 25 ° C.): When the sample was a compound, the compound was mixed with an appropriate composition, and then the dielectric anisotropy was measured. The dielectric anisotropy of the compound is an extrapolated value.
1) Composition having a positive dielectric anisotropy: A sample was placed in a liquid crystal cell in which the distance (gap) between two glass substrates was about 9 μm and the twist angle was 80 degrees. 20 volts was applied to the cell, and the dielectric constant (ε 率) in the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules was measured. 0.5 V was applied, and the dielectric constant (ε⊥) in the minor axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules was measured. The value of dielectric anisotropy was calculated from the equation: Δε = ε∥−ε⊥.

2) Composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy: A sample was placed in a liquid crystal cell treated in a homeotropic alignment, and 0.5 volt was applied to measure the dielectric constant (ε ボ ル ト). A sample was put in a liquid crystal cell treated to homogeneous alignment, and a dielectric constant (ε⊥) was measured by applying 0.5 volts. The value of dielectric anisotropy was calculated from the equation: Δε = ε∥−ε⊥.

  Threshold voltage (Vth; measured at 25 ° C .; V): When the sample was a compound, the threshold voltage was measured after mixing the compound with an appropriate composition. The threshold voltage of the compound is an extrapolated value. 1) A composition having a positive dielectric anisotropy: a normally white mode (normally white mode) in which a distance (gap) between two glass substrates is (0.5 / Δn) μm and a twist angle is 80 degrees. A sample was put in a liquid crystal display element in white mode). Δn is a value of refractive index anisotropy measured by the above method. A rectangular wave having a frequency of 32 Hz was applied to this element. The voltage of the rectangular wave was increased and the value of the voltage when the transmittance of light passing through the element reached 90% was measured.

2) Composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy: For a normally black mode liquid crystal display element in which the distance (gap) between two glass substrates is about 9 μm and is processed in a homeotropic alignment. A sample was placed. A rectangular wave having a frequency of 32 Hz was applied to this element. The voltage of the rectangular wave was raised, and the value of the voltage when the transmittance of light passing through the element reached 10% was measured.

  Voltage holding ratio (VHR; measured at 25 ° C .;%): The TN device used for measurement has a polyimide alignment film, and the distance between two glass substrates (cell gap) is 6 μm. This element was sealed with an adhesive polymerized by ultraviolet rays after putting a sample. The TN device was charged by applying a pulse voltage (60 microseconds at 5 V). The decaying voltage was measured for 16.7 milliseconds with a high-speed voltmeter, and the area A between the voltage curve and the horizontal axis in a unit cycle was determined. The area B is an area when it is not attenuated. The voltage holding ratio is a percentage of the area A with respect to the area B.

  Helical pitch (measured at 20 ° C .; μm): Kano's wedge cell method was used to measure the helical pitch. A sample was injected into a Kano wedge-shaped cell, and the distance (a; unit: μm) between disclination lines observed from the cell was measured. The helical pitch (P) was calculated from the formula P = 2 · a · tan θ. θ is the angle between the two glass plates in the wedge-shaped cell.

Alternatively, the pitch length was measured using selective reflection (Liquid Crystal Manual 196 (issued in 2000, Maruzen). For the selective reflection wavelength λ, the relational expression <n> p / λ = 1 holds, where <n > Represents the average refractive index and is given by the following formula: <n> = {(n ² + n ² ) / 2} ^{1/2 The} selective reflection wavelength is a microspectrophotometer (JEOL Ltd., product) The pitch was determined by dividing the obtained reflection wavelength by the average refractive index.
The pitch of a cholesteric liquid crystal having a reflection wavelength in the longer wavelength region than visible light is proportional to the reciprocal of the concentration of the chiral agent in a region where the chiral agent concentration is low, so the pitch length of a liquid crystal having a selective reflection wavelength in the visible light region is increased. Several points were measured and obtained by linear extrapolation.

  The ratio (percentage) of the component or the liquid crystal compound is a weight percentage (% by weight) based on the total weight of the liquid crystal compound. The composition is prepared by measuring the weight of components such as a liquid crystal compound and then mixing them. Therefore, it is easy to calculate the weight percentage of the component.

Example 1
A nematic liquid crystal composition A-1 is prepared by mixing the compounds represented by formulas (a), (b), (c) and (d) (hereinafter referred to as “compound a” etc.) at the weight ratio shown below. did.

Next, a liquid crystal composition B-1 composed of a liquid crystal composition A-1 (92 wt%) and a chiral agent ISO-60BA2 (8 wt%) represented by the following formula was obtained. This exhibited an optically optically isotropic liquid crystal phase at 27 ° C. ISO-60BA2 was obtained by esterifying isosorbide and 4-hexyloxybenzoic acid in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine.

ISO-6OBA2

(Example 2)
The liquid crystal composition B-1 of Example 1 is sandwiched between a comb-shaped electrode substrate (FIG. 1) that is not subjected to alignment treatment and a counter glass substrate (non-electrode application) (cell thickness: 10 micrometers), These substrates (comb electrode cells) containing the composition were placed in the optical system shown in FIG. 2, and the electro-optical characteristics were measured.

  In the comb electrode cell, the incident angle of the laser beam to the cell is perpendicular to the cell surface, and the line direction of the comb electrode is 45 ° with respect to the Polarizer and the Analyzer polarizing plate, respectively. installed. The transmittance was saturated by applying a rectangular wave with an amplitude of 70V. When an electric field was applied in the same manner under a crossed Nicols polarizing microscope, no afterimage was observed. The measurement temperature is room temperature, 27 ° C.

  As described above, the liquid crystal composition B-1 can realize two states of light and dark by turning on / off the electric field, and can realize a high-speed response even when an electric field is applied until the transmittance is saturated.

(Example 3)
Preparation of Mixture of Monomer and Liquid Crystal Composition As a mixture of the liquid crystal composition and the monomer, 84.4% by weight of liquid crystal composition B-1, 6.4% by weight of trimethylolpropane triacrylate, 1,4-di (4 Liquid crystal composition in which 8.6% by weight of-(6- (acryloyloxy) hexyloxy) benzoyloxy) -2-methylbenzene and 0.6% by weight of 2,2′-dimethoxyphenylacetophenone as a photopolymerization initiator are mixed. B-1M was prepared.

Preparation of polymer / liquid crystal composite material The liquid crystal composition B-1M is sandwiched between a comb-shaped electrode substrate not subjected to alignment treatment and a counter glass substrate (non-electrode provided) (cell thickness: 10 micrometers) to obtain The resulting cell was heated to an isotropic phase of 35.0 ° C. In this state, ultraviolet light (ultraviolet light intensity 10 mWcm ⁻² (365 nm)) was irradiated for 5 minutes to carry out a polymerization reaction.

  The thus obtained polymer / liquid crystal composite material B-1P was cooled to a temperature of 0 ° C. or lower and maintained an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase. That is, the temperature range in which the optically isotropic phase appears further than in the liquid crystal composition B-1M.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electrodes of the comb-shaped electrode substrate are alternately arranged with electrodes 1 extending from the left side and electrodes 2 extending from the right side. Therefore, when there is a potential difference between the electrode 1 and the electrode 2, it is possible to provide a state in which electric fields in two directions, ie, an upper direction and a lower direction, exist on the comb-shaped electrode substrate as shown in FIG.

Example 4
The cell sandwiched with the polymer / liquid crystal composite material B-1P obtained in Example 3 was set in the optical system shown in FIG. 2, and the electro-optical characteristics were measured. The cell was set in the optical system so that the incident angle of the laser beam to the cell was perpendicular to the cell surface, and the line direction of the comb-shaped electrode was 45 ° with respect to the Polarizer and the Analyzer polarizer. . When a rectangular wave with an amplitude of 90 V was applied at a measurement temperature of 20 ° C., the transmittance was 88% and the transmitted light intensity was saturated.

Examples of the utilization method of the present invention include an optical element such as a display element using a liquid crystal medium.

The comb-shaped electrode substrate used in the Example is shown. The optical system used in the Example is shown.

Claims (42)

A liquid crystal composition comprising a compound represented by formula (1) and a chiral agent and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.

In the formula (1), R ¹ is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and any —CH ₂ — in the alkyl is —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, — CH = CH—, —CF═CF—, or —C≡C— may be substituted, and any hydrogen in the alkyl may be substituted with halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; ring A ¹ , Ring A ² , ring A ³ , ring A ⁴ , and ring A ⁵ are each independently a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, thiophene ring, piperidine ring, cyclohexene ring, bicyclooctane ring, tetrahydronaphthalene ring or cyclohexane ring, any hydrogen halide of these rings, an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, may be replaced by alkoxy or halogenated alkyl, -CH ring 2 _- replace by -O- or -S- May be, -CH = may be replaced by ^{-N =; Z 1, Z 2} , Z 3, Z 4, Z 5, and ^{Z 6} are each independently a single bond, 1 to 4 carbon atoms And any —CH ₂ — in the alkylene is —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CSO—, —OCS—, —CH═CH—, —CF═. CF— or —C≡C— may be replaced and any hydrogen may be replaced with halogen; L ¹ , L ² , L ³ and L ⁴ are independently hydrogen or halogen; X ¹ is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —C≡C—C≡N, —SF ₅ , or alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and in this alkyl, any —CH ₂ -May be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CH = CH-, or -C≡C-. And any hydrogen may be replaced by halogen; l, m, n, o, and p are independently 0 or 1 and l + m + n + o + p ≦ 4. In the formula (1), R ¹ is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 2 to 21 carbon atoms, difluoroalkenyl having 2 to 21 carbon atoms, alkynyl having 2 to 21 carbon atoms, alkoxy having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, C 2-20 alkenyloxy, C 1-19 alkylthio or C 1-19 alkenylthio; X ¹ is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N, —N═C═S, —SF _{5. , -CH 2 F, -CHF 2,} -CF 3, - (CH 2) 2 -F, -CF 2 CH 2 F, -CF 2 CHF 2, -CH 2 CF 3, -CF 2 CF 3, - ( _{CH 2) 3 -F, - (} CF 2) 3 -F, -CF 2 CHFCF 3, -CHFCF 2 CF 3, - (CH 2) 4 -F, - (CF 2) 4 -F, - (CH 2 _{) 5 -F, - (CF 2} ) 5 -F, -O _{H 2 F, -OCHF 2, -OCF} 3, -O- (CH 2) 2 -F, -OCF 2 CH 2 F, -OCF 2 CHF 2, -OCH 2 CF 3, -O- (CH 2) 3 _{-F, -O- (CF 2) 3} -F, -OCF 2 CHFCF 3, -OCHFCF 2 CF 3, -O (CH 2) 4 -F, -O- (CF 2) 4 -F, -O- _{(CH 2) 5 -F, -O-} (CF 2) 5 -F, -CH = CHF, -CH = CF 2, -CF = CHF, -CH = CHCH 2 F, -CH = CHCF 3, - ( The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, wherein CH ₂ ) ₂ —CH═CF ₂ , —CH ₂ CH═CHCF ₃ , or —CH═CHCF ₂ CF ₃ . In the formula (1), Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ are independently a single bond, —CH ₂ CH ₂ —, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal composition is —COO—, —CF ₂ O—, —CH ₂ O—, or —OCH ₂ —. Ring A ¹ , Ring A ² , Ring A ³ , Ring A ⁴ , and Ring A ⁵ are each independently one of formulas (RG-1) to (RG-15), and Y ¹ , Y ² , Y ³ and Y ⁴ are independently hydrogen or halogen, and fn1, fn2, fn3 and fn4 are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, Liquid crystal composition.

5. R ¹ is represented by any ^one of formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-19), and R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons. Liquid crystal composition.

The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (1-1) to (1-9).

In these formulas, R ¹ is represented by any ^one of formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-19), R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons; ring A ¹ , ring A ² , Ring A ³ , Ring A ⁴ , and Ring A ⁵ are independently selected from the formulas (RG-1), (RG-5), (RG-7), (RG-8-1) to (RG-). 8-5), (RG-9), (RG-10) or (RG-15); Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ and Z ⁶ are independently _{bond, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -} CH = CH -, - C≡C -, - COO -, - CF 2 O -, - CH 2 O-, or -OCH ₂ - a and; ^{L 1} and ^{L 2} independently, hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine; ^{X 1} is fluorine, _{chlorine, -C≡N, -CF 3, -CHF 2} , -CH 2 F, -OCF 3, -O HF _2, a -OCH ₂ F or -C = C-CF _3.

The formula (1-1) to (1-9), wherein at least one of Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ is —CF ₂ O—. Liquid crystal composition. 7. The liquid crystal according to claim 6, wherein in formulas (1-1) to (1-9), at least one of Z ¹ , Z ² , Z ³ , Z ⁴ , Z ⁵ , and Z ⁶ is —COO—. Composition. In formulas (1-1) to (1-9), R ¹ is represented by any ^one of formulas (CHN-1) to (CHN-4) and (CHN-6) to (CHN-8), The liquid crystal composition according to claim 6, wherein R ^1a is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons.

The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (2), (3), and (4). .

In these formulas, R ² is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and in the alkyl and alkenyl, any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine, and any —CH ₂ — is — May be replaced by O—; X ² may be fluorine, chlorine, —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ , —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F, —OCF ₂ CHF ₂ , or —OCF ₂ CHFCF ₃ Yes; Ring B ¹ , Ring B ² , and Ring B ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2 , 5-diyl, 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; Z ⁷ and Z ⁸ are independently — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, — (CH _{2) 4} - _{-COO -, - CF 2 O -} , - OCF 2 -, - CH = CH -, - C≡C -, - CH 2 O-, or a single bond; ^{L 5} and ^{L 6} are each independently hydrogen Or it is fluorine. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (5).

In these formulas, R ³ is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and in the alkyl and alkenyl, any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine, and any —CH ₂ — is — X ³ is —C≡N or —C≡C—C≡N; Ring C ¹ , Ring C ² and Ring C ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, or pyrimidine-2,5- Z ⁹ is — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —COO—, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, —C≡C—, —CH ₂ O—, or a single bond; L ⁷ and L ⁸ are independently hydrogen or fluorine There; r is 1 or 2, s is 0 or 1, r + s = 0, 1 or 2. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10), respectively. 2. A liquid crystal composition according to item 1.

In these formulas, R ⁴ and R ⁵ are independently alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and any hydrogen in alkyl and alkenyl may be replaced by fluorine, Any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; Ring D ¹ , Ring D ² , Ring D ³ , and Ring D ⁴ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohex; Senylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, or decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl; Z ¹⁰ , Z ¹¹ , Z ¹² , and Z ¹³ are each independently — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —COO—, —CH ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, —OCF ₂ (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, or a single bond. Yes; L And ^{L 10} are independently fluorine or chlorine; t, u, x, y, and z are independently 0 or 1, u + x + y + z is 1 or 2. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13). .

In these formulas, R ⁶ and R ⁷ are independently alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, in which any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine, Any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; ring E ¹ , ring E ² , and ring E ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, 1 , 4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, or 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z ¹⁴ and Z ¹⁵ are independently —C≡C—, —COO—, — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —CH═CH—, or a single bond.   The liquid crystal composition according to claim 10, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (5) according to claim 11.   The liquid crystal composition according to claim 10, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13).   The liquid crystal composition according to claim 11, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12), and (13).   The liquid crystal composition according to claim 12, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (11), (12) and (13). The at least 1 compound selected from the group of the compound represented by each of Formula (15), (16), (17), and (18) is further contained in any one of Claims 1-9 Liquid crystal composition.

In these formulas, R ⁸ is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons or alkynyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and any hydrogen in alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be replaced by fluorine. Well, any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; X ⁴ is fluorine, chlorine, —SF ₅ , —OCF ₃ , —OCHF ₂ , —CF ₃ , —CHF ₂ , —CH ₂ F , —OCF ₂ CHF ₂ , or —OCF ₂ CHFCF ₃ ; ring F ¹ , ring F ² , ring F ³ and ring F ⁴ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2 , 5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine or chlorine ^{Ri; Z 16,} Z ¹⁷ and ^{Z 18} are _{independently, - (CH 2) 2 -} , - (CH 2) 4 -, - COO -, - CF 2 O -, - OCF 2 -, - CH = CH _{-, - C≡C -, - CH} 2 O-, or a single bond; ^{L 9} and ^{L 10} are independently hydrogen or fluorine. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (19).

In these formulas, R ⁹ is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons or alkynyl having 2 to 10 carbons, and any hydrogen in alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be replaced by fluorine. Well, any —CH ₂ — may be replaced by —O—; X ⁵ is —C≡N, —N═C═S, or —C≡C—C≡N; Ring G ¹ , Ring G ² and Ring G ³ are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-phenylene in which any hydrogen is replaced by fluorine or chlorine, 1,3-dioxane-2, 5-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl, or pyrimidine-2,5-diyl; Z ¹⁹ is — (CH ₂ ) ₂ —, —COO—, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, -C≡C -, - _CH 2 O Or a single ^{bond; L 11} and ^{L 12} are independently hydrogen or fluorine; aa is 0, 1 or 2, ab is 0 or 1, aa + ab is 0, 1 or 2 .   The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, comprising at least one antioxidant and / or ultraviolet absorber.   The liquid crystal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase does not exhibit two or more colors of diffracted light.   The liquid crystal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the optically isotropic liquid crystal phase exhibits diffracted light of two or more colors.   The liquid crystal composition is obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition in which the difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the chiral nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist is 3 to 150 ° C. 23. The liquid crystal composition according to 21 or 22.   The liquid crystal composition is obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition in which the difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the chiral nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist is 5 to 150 ° C. 23. The liquid crystal composition according to 21 or 22.   The liquid crystal composition is obtained by adding a chiral agent to a composition in which the difference between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature at which the nematic phase and the non-liquid crystal isotropic phase coexist is 3 to 150 ° C. Or the liquid crystal composition of 22.   The liquid crystal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the proportion of the chiral agent is 1 to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition.   The liquid crystal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the proportion of the chiral agent is 5 to 15% by weight with respect to the total weight of the liquid crystal composition.   28. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 26 or 27, which exhibits a chiral nematic phase at any temperature of 70 to -20 [deg.] C. and has a helical pitch of 700 nm or less in at least a part of this temperature range. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the chiral agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by each of formulas (K1) to (K5).

(In the formula (K1) ~ (K5), R K is independently hydrogen, halogen, -C≡N, alkyl of -N = C = O, -N = C = S or C 1-20, Any —CH ₂ — in the alkyl may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF— or —C≡C—. Well, any hydrogen in the alkyl may be replaced by halogen; A is independently an aromatic or non-aromatic 3- to 8-membered ring or a condensed ring having 9 or more carbon atoms; Any hydrogen in these rings may be replaced with halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or haloalkyl, and —CH ₂ — in the ring may be replaced with —O—, —S— or —NH—. , -CH = may be replaced by -N =; Z is independently a single bond, 1 carbon Although 8 is alkylene, arbitrary _-CH 2 -, -O -, - S -, - COO -, - OCO -, - CSO -, - OCS -, - N = N -, - CH = N- , -N = CH-, -CH = CH-, -CF = CF-, or -C≡C-, and any hydrogen may be replaced by halogen;
X is a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH ₂ O—, —OCH ₂ —, —CF ₂ O—, —OCF ₂ —, or —CH ₂ CH ₂ —;
mK is an integer of 1 to 4. ) The chiral agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (K2-1) to (K2-8) and (K5-1) to (K5-3), respectively. The liquid crystal composition according to any one of 26 to 28.

(R ^K is independently alkyl having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and —CH ₂ — adjacent to the ring in the alkyl may be replaced by —O—, and any —CH ₂ — is —CH ₂ — = CH- may be substituted.)   A mixture comprising the liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 and a polymerizable monomer.   32. The mixture according to claim 31, wherein the polymerizable monomer is a photopolymerizable monomer or a thermally polymerizable monomer.   A polymer / liquid crystal composite material obtained by polymerizing the mixture according to claim 31 or 32 and used for an element driven in an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.   The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to claim 33, which is obtained by polymerizing the mixture according to claim 31 or 32 in a non-liquid crystal isotropic phase or an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.   The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to claim 33, wherein the polymer contained in the polymer / liquid crystal composite material has a mesogen moiety.   36. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to claim 33, wherein the polymer contained in the polymer / liquid crystal composite material has a crosslinked structure.   37. The polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein a proportion of the liquid crystal composition is 60 to 99% by weight and a proportion of the polymer is 1 to 40% by weight.   An optical element comprising an electrode disposed on one or both surfaces, a liquid crystal medium disposed between substrates, and an electric field applying means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal medium via the electrode, wherein the liquid crystal medium is claimed in claim An optical element, which is the liquid crystal composition according to any one of claims 26 to 30 or the polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of claims 33 to 37.   An electrode is disposed on one or both surfaces, at least one of which is a transparent substrate, a liquid crystal medium disposed between the substrates, and a polarizing plate disposed outside the substrate, and the liquid crystal medium via the electrode An optical device comprising an electric field applying means for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal medium, wherein the liquid crystal medium is the liquid crystal composition or polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of claims 26 to 30. An optical element which is the polymer / liquid crystal composite material according to any one of the above.   40. The optical element according to claim 39, wherein an electrode is configured so that an electric field can be applied in at least two directions on at least one of the pair of substrates.   40. The optical element according to claim 39, wherein an electrode is configured so that an electric field can be applied in at least two directions to one or both of a pair of substrates arranged in parallel to each other.   The optical element according to any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a matrix to constitute a pixel electrode, each pixel includes an active element, and the active element is a thin film transistor (TFT).

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