Antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display element using the same

An antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising:

• at least one first chiralsmectic liquid crystal compound having a negative specific rotatory power and an S type absolute configuration;
• and
• at least one second chiralsmectic liquid crystal compound having a positive specific rotatory power and an S type absolute configuration,
• wherein the at least one first and second chiralsmectic liquid crystal compounds are optically active compounds represented by the following general formula (II), ##STR39## wherein m is an integer of 1 to 18;
• n is an integer of 3 to 10;
• A, B and C are one or a combination of two selected from the following formulae (III);
• X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 are independently selected from the following formulae (IV);
• Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and Z.sup.3 are independently selected from the following formulae (V);
• and Y is any one of CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 and C.sub.2 F.sub.5,
• (III):
• ##STR40## (IV) single bond (--), --COO--, --OCO--, --CO--, --O--, --CH.sub.2 O-- and --C.tbd.C--, and
• (V) H, F, Cl, Br, CN and CH.sub.3, and
• wherein the composition has a specific rotatory power of from -25.degree. to 0.degree..

An antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising:

• at least one first chiralsmectic liquid crystal compound having a positive specific rotatory power and an asymmetric chemical constitution;
• and
• at least one second chiralsmectic liquid crystal compound having a negative specific rotatory power and an asymmetric chemical constitution,
• wherein the at least one first and second chiralsmectic liquid crystal compounds are represented by the following formula (I), ##STR41## wherein R is any one of CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 and C.sub.2 F.sub.5, and
• wherein an absolute configuration of the at least one first and second chiralsmectic liquid crystal compounds are both R type or both S type, and the composition has a specific rotatory power of from -25.degree. to +25.degree..