Disclosed is a polycyclic compound represented by the following formula (I): R.sup.1 --X.sup.1 --[A.sup.1 --X.sup.2 ]--[A.sup.2 --X.sup.3 ]--R.sup.2 (I) wherein R.sup.1 is a (halogenated) alkyl group of 6 to 16 carbon atoms, X.sup.1 is --O-- group or a single bond, A.sup.1 is a biphenylene group, a phenylene group or the like, A.sup.2 is 1-fluoro-3,4-dihydronaphthalene or the like, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 are each --COO--, a single bond or the like, and R.sup.2 is an optically active group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms which has at least one asymmetric carbon atom. Also disclosed are a liquid crystal material consisting of the polycyclic compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the liquid crystal material, and a liquid crystal element. This novel polycyclic compound is optically active and capable of being in a smectic phase in a wide temperature range including room temperature. The polycyclic compound can be used as a ferroelectric liquid crystal material or an antiferroelectric liquid crystal material. By the use of the liquid crystal material of the invention, a liquid crystal element having a quick response speed in a wide temperature range can be obtained.
本发明公开了一种
多环化合物,其
化学式为(I):R.sup.1 --X.sup.1 --[A.sup.1 --X.sup.2 ]--[A.sup.2 --X.sup.3 ]--R.sup.2 (I),其中R.sup.1是具有6至16个碳原子的(卤代)烷基,X.sup.1为--O--基团或单键,A.sup.1为
联苯基团,苯基团或类似物,A.sup.2为1-
氟-3,4-二氢
萘或类似物,X.sup.2和X.sup.3分别为--COO--,单键或类似物,R.sup.2是具有至少一个不对称碳原子的4至20个碳原子的手性基团。本发明还公开了由该
多环化合物组成的液晶材料、包括该液晶材料的液晶组合物以及液晶元件。该新型
多环化合物是手性的,并且能够在包括室温在内的广泛温度范围内处于液晶相。该
多环化合物可以用作
铁电液晶材料或反
铁电液晶材料。通过使用本发明的液晶材料,可以获得具有广泛温度范围内快速响应速度的液晶元件。