Fluoroalkane derivative

Abstract

A fluoroalkane derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R denotes an alkyl group having 1-16 carbon atoms, C* denotes an asymmetric carbon atom, R.sup.1 denotes an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-16 carbon atoms; ##STR2## respectively denote a phenylene group ##STR3## a cyclohexylene group ##STR4## or a pyrimidinylene group ##STR5## p is 0 or 1, q is 0 or 1 when p is 1, r is 0 or 1; and l, m and n are respectively 0 or a positive integer satisfying the relationship of l+m+n.gtoreq.1. The fluoroalkane derivative has a fluorine atom providing a large dipole moment and directly connected to an asymmetric carbon atom, so that it provides a high speed responsive characteristic through an increased spontaneous polarization when contained in a liquid crystal composition, especially a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.