NAPHTHALENE RING-CONTAINING OPTICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUND AND LIQUID CRYSTAL COMPOSITION CONTAINING THE SAME

PURPOSE:To provide the title novel, chemically stable compound containing naphthalene ring which induces high spontaneous polarization on addition to a liquid crystal composition giving either extremely high spontaneous polarization or smectic-C phase. CONSTITUTION:The objective compound of formula I [ R is of formula II (R is >=2C alkyl; C* is asymmetric carbon atom), etc.; R is of formula III (n is >=2); X is of formula IV, etc.; Y is H or OH ], for example, (R)-6-(2-n- hexyloxypropanoyloxy)-2-naphthoic acid (S)-3-hydroxy-4-(1-oxo-2-methylbutyl) phenyl ester. The present compound can be obtained by condensation in the presence of a dehydrating agent (e.g. dicyclohexycarbodiimide) between (A) an optically active alkanoyl phenol or alkanoyl resorcinol of formula V and (B) an optically active substituted naphthoic acid. The present compound is broad in the temperature range for smectic-C phase, thus being useful as a raw material for ferroelectric liquid crystals with quick response.