Preparation of optically active trifluorolactic acid derivative and liquid crystal composition.

Abstract

R1A-v-B-w-C-x-C*H(CF3)-y-R2 (R1 = C1-18 alkyl, alkoxy, C2-18 alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl; R2 = (alkoxy-substituted) alkyl; A, B, C = 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyrazine-2,5-diyl, pyridazine-3,6-diyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-diyl, etc.; v,w = CO2, O2C, CH2O, OCH2, CH2CH2, CH:CH, C≡C, single bond; x, y = a combination of OCH2 and O, OCH2 and O2C, OCH2 and OCO2, O2C and O, etc.) and their intermediates are prepd. from optically active 3,3,3-trifluorolactic acid. A liq. crystal compn., particularly a chiral smectic or nematic liq. crystal compn., contains at least I. An optical switching device uses the above liq. crystal compn. Some of I show very large spontaneous polarization and/or ferroelec. liq. crystal phase by themselves or induce sufficient spontaneous polarization even though I themselves do not show ferroelec. liq. crystal phase, thereby a liq. crystal compn. contg. I shortens response time and provides an animation display. Some of I show antiferroelec. liq. crystal phase at a broader temp. range compared to the known liq. crystals such as MHPOBC and TFMHPOBC. A total of 25 I were prepd. and 2 liq. crystal compns. contg. I were given. [on SciFinder(R)]