A liquid crystal compound having a positive value of dielectric anisotropy and a low viscosity and being capable of extending the mesomorphic range of liquid crystal composition toward its lower region, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which compound is a trans-4-substituted-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid .beta.-(4-halogenophenyl) ethyl ester derivative expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents R.sup.2, ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, each having 1 to 15 carbons and X represents F or Cl.
Novel compounds having a small dielectric anisotropy value (.DELTA..epsilon.), a low viscosity and a small .gamma. value (ratio of saturation voltage to threshold voltage) indicating sharpness, and liquid crystal compositions containing the same are provided, which compounds are 2,4-difluorobenzene derivatives of trans-4-alkylcyclohexanes expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2, m is 0 or 1 and R represents an alkyl group of 1-10 carbon atoms.