Liquid crystalline 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene compounds amp; compositions thereof, amp; phenylacetylene precursors therefor

摘要

Phenylacetylene compounds of formula (2): [wherein ASP1/SP to ASP12/SP each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least one is an alkyl group; RSP1/SP and RSP2/SP each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, a 4-RSP3/SP-(cycloalykyl) group, a 4-RSP3/SP-(cycloalkenyl) group, or a RSP4/SP-(O) group (where RSP3/SP represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by fluorine, a linear or branched alkenyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by fluorine, or a linear or branched alkynyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by a fluorine atom; and RSP4/SPrepresents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by a fluorine atom, a linear or branched alkenyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by a fluorine atom, or a linear or branched alkynyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms which may be substituted by a fluorine atom; and q represents 0 or 1)] have a large anisotropy of refractive index, are compatible with other liquid crystals and are stable to light. Liquid crystal compositions containing such compounds may be used in liquid crystal elements, such as optical shutters and display elements. Compounds of formula (2) are claimed per se (subject to exclusions set out in claim 1). Compounds of formula (IM-1): and of formula (IM-3): [wherein x represents I, Br or OSO 2 CF 3 ] are also claimed per se.