An object of the invention is to provide novel liquid crystalline compounds which 1) exhibit a low threshold voltage, 2) have a low viscosity, 3) maintain or lower dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal compositions when added thereto, and further are excellent in miscibility with other known liquid crystalline compounds, particularly excellent in the miscibility at low temperatures; to provide liquid crystal compositions comprising the compound; and to provide liquid crystal display devices comprising the composition; and the liquid crystalline compounds are α, α-difluorobenzyl ether derivatives expressed by the general formula (1)
wherein R1 represents a straight chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 15 carbon atoms one or not-adjacent two or more CH2 groups in the alkyl or alkenyl group may be replaced by oxygen atom; ring A and ring B independently represent 1,4-cyclohexylene group one or more CH2 groups on the ring may be replaced by oxygen atom or sulfur atom, or 1,4-phenylene group one or more CH groups on the ring may be replaced by nitrogen atom, and one or more hydrogen atoms on the ring may be replaced by a halogen atom; ring C and ring D independently represent 1,4-phenylene group one or more hydrogen atoms on the ring may be replaced by a halogen atom; Z1, Z2, and Z3 independently represent -CH2CH2-, -CH=CH-, -C≡C-, or single bond; X represents a halogen atom, CF3, OCF3, OCHF2, or CN; Y represents hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; ℓ and m are 0 or 1; ℓ + m ≦ 1; and an element which constitutes the compound may be replaced by its isotope.
本发明的目的是提供新型
液晶化合物,其 1)表现出低阈值电压;2)具有低粘度;3)添加到
液晶组合物中时保持或降低
液晶组合物的介电各向异性,并且与其他已知
液晶化合物的混溶性极佳,尤其是在低温下的混溶性极佳;提供包含该化合物的
液晶组合物;以及提供包含该组合物的
液晶显示器件;该
液晶化合物是通式(1)表示的 α、α-二
氟苄醚衍
生物
其中 R1 代表具有 1 至 15 个
碳原子的直链或支链烷基或具有 2 至 15 个
碳原子的
烯基,烷基或
烯基中的一个或不相邻的两个或多个
CH2 基团可被
氧原子取代;环 A 和环 B 独立代表 1,4-
环己烯基,环上的一个或多个 基团可被
氧原子或
硫原子取代,或代表 1,4-亚
苯基,环上的一个或多个 CH 基团可被
氮原子取代,环上的一个或多个
氢原子可被卤素原子取代;环 C 和环 D 独立地代表 1,4-亚
苯基,环上的一个或多个
氢原子可被卤素原子取代; Z1、Z2 和 Z3 独立地代表 - -、-CH=CH-、-C≡C- 或单键;X 代表卤素原子、
CF3、O 、OCHF2 或 CN;Y 代表
氢原子或卤素原子;ℓ 和 m 为 0 或 1;ℓ + m ≦ 1;构成化合物的元素可被其同位素取代。