A compound serving as a dichroic pigment which has a maximum absorption wavelength in a range of 350 nm to 510 nm is represented by the following Formula (1): ##STR00001##
In Formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C20 alkyl group; R.sup.2 through R.sup.4 are substituents which are not hydrogen atoms and each independently represent a C1-C4 alkyl group; m, p, and q are each independently an integer of 0 to 2; and R.sup.5 is (i) a C1-C10 alkyl group in which a hydrogen atom is substituted by at least one hydroxy group or (ii) a C1-C10 alkyl group which has carbon atoms and in which at least one O is inserted between the carbon atoms.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having excellent solubility, which is used for the formation of an optically anisotropic film having excellent durability, a method for producing the same, a polymerizable liquid crystal composition, an optically anisotropic film, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound of the embodiment of the present invention is a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (1), L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-A.sup.1-D.sup.3-G.sup.1-D.sup.1-Ar-D.sup.2-G.sup.2-D.sup.4-A.sup.2-SP.sup.2-L.sup.2 . . . (1) in Formula (1), the ClogP value of the group represented by L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-A.sup.1-D.sup.3-G.sup.1-D.sup.1 and the ClogP value of the group represented by L.sup.2-SP.sup.2-A.sup.2-D.sup.4-G.sup.2-D.sup.2 are different from each other, and at least one of the ClogP values is 3.3 or more.

Disclosed are photonic crystals containing photoresponsive molecules and a method of preparing the same. More particularly, it is possible to synthesize photonic crystals containing photoresponsive molecules that induce photoalignment of azobenzene by ultraviolet irradiation using bent-shaped liquid crystal molecules containing azobenzene, which causes photo-isomerization upon ultraviolet irradiation, form a periodic structure in a visible light region using a self-assembly phenomenon occurring as temperature decreases, realize a reflection color and enable reversible pattering.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a ?-lactam derivative, wherein a substituted N-quinoline-3-butenamide derivative is used as a substrate to react with a toluene derivative or a heterocyclic derivative at 90-150? C. in the presence of DTBP and a copper salt catalyst, to prepare a ?-lactam derivative. According to the method of the present invention, a variety of ?-lactam derivatives can be obtained with a high yield. The reaction of the present invention has mild reaction conditions, and simple reaction operation and post-treatment process, and is suitable for large-scale production.

A composition includes an isomerized polymer containing a structural unit containing an isomerized structure and an isomerized low molecular weight compound, the composition being fluidized by light irradiation from a solid state and being reversibly non-fluidized.

A composition includes an isomerized polymer containing a structural unit containing an isomerized structure and an isomerized low molecular weight compound, the composition being fluidized by light irradiation from a solid state and being reversibly non-fluidized.

An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.

The present invention provides a spontaneous orientation aid for a liquid crystal composition, containing one kind or two or more kinds of a compound having a partial structure represented by the general formula (i), wherein Z.sup.i1 represents a single bond, etc.; A.sup.i1 represents a divalent 6-membered aromatic group, etc.; m.sup.i1 represents an integer of 1 to 5; and K.sup.i1 represents a structure represented by any of the following formulae (K-1) to (K-8), wherein W.sup.K1 represents a methine group, etc.; X.sup.K1 and Y.sup.K1 each represent CH.sub.2, etc.; Z.sup.K1 represents an oxygen atom, etc.; and U.sup.K1, V.sup.K1, and S.sup.K1 each represent a methine group, etc.:

##STR00001##

The invention relates to novel anisotropic compounds of formula (I) ##STR00001##
as well as liquid crystalline mixtures, films and electro-optical devices comprising the compound.

A liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes: a base; an alignment inducing layer on the base and including a first compound represented by formula A1 or a polymer of the first compound; and a liquid crystal layer on the alignment inducing layer that includes liquid crystals:

##STR00001##

where R.sub.1 may be hydrogen or a polymerizable group, R.sub.2 may be a hydrophilic group, SP.sub.1 and SP.sub.2 may each independently be a single bond, a C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkylene group, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkoxylene group, Z may be a single bond, an ester group, or an ether group, and X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 may each independently be hydrogen, a methyl group, fluorine, or chlorine.