Optically active phenoxypropionic esters

An optically active compound of the formula I ##STR34## where R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl or -perfluoroalkyl in which each of one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 or CF.sub.2 groups can be replaced by --O--, --CO--, --CO--O--, --CH.dbd.CH--, --CH-halogen--, --O--CO--CHCN--, or is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl which can have a terminal chemically reactive group selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--, HO--, ##STR35## where R.sup.2 is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5,

• R.sup.3 is --OH or --Cl, and
• R.sup.4 is H, Cl or CH.sub.3,
• and in which a CH.sub.2 group can be replaced by --O--,
• A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are each, independently of the other:
• 1. 4-phenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two members of the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, CH.sub.3 and CN groups and in which one or two CH groups of the phenylene ring can be replaced by N;
• 1,4-cyclohexylene in which one or two non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups can be replaced by --O-- or --S--;
• 1,4-piperidinediyl;
• 1. 4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octylene;
• 2,6-naphthalenediyl;
• decahydro-2,6-naphthalenediyl;
• or
• 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,6-naphthalenediyl,
• A.sup.3 is phenyl substituted by one or two members which are independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkoxy, F, Cl, and Br,
• Z is --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O, --C.dbd.C--, or a single bond, and
• m is 0, 1, 2, or 3,
• with the proviso that when m is 2 or 3, the radicals A.sup.1 and Z in the individual --(A.sup.1 --Z) groups can be identical or different.