Optically active compound and liquid crystal composition containing the same

Abstract

An optically active compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; m and n each represent 1 or 2 provided that they do not simultaneously represent 1; and C.sup.*1 and C.sup.*2, both represent an optically active carbon atom, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are disclosed. The compound exhibits chiral nematic and smectic phases and are excellent as a chiral dopant for ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions or nematic liquid crystal compositions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.