An optically active compound represented by formula (I): wherein A represents ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; R.sup.1 represents a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms; X represents a fluorine atom or a methyl group; n represents 1 or 2; m represents an integer of from 0 to 3; and C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are disclosed. The compound exhibits large spontaneous polarization and low viscosity and, when added to an achiral base liquid crystal composition, induces a chiral nematic phase in which the helical pitch has small temperature dependence.
公式(I)表示的一种光学活性化合物:其中A表示##STR1##其中R.sup.2表示具有8至12个碳原子的烷基;R.sup.1表示具有2至5个碳原子的直链烷基;X表示
氟原子或甲基基团;n表示1或2;m表示0至3的整数;C*表示一个不对称碳原子,以及包含该化合物的液晶组合物。该化合物表现出大的自发极化和低粘度,并且当添加到无手性基础液晶组合物中时,在其中诱导出具有小温度依赖性的螺旋向列相。