A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition excellent in vertical alignment and compatibility and to provide a liquid crystal display device produced using the same. The problem is solved by a liquid crystal composition containing one or two or more kinds of self-aligning polymerizable monomers and one or two or more kinds of polymerizable monomers (or polymerizable compounds) having a specific chemical structure, and a liquid crystal display device produced using the same, specifically a liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable monomer represented by General Formula (I) and a spontaneously aligning monomer which has a chemical structure different from that of the polymerizable monomer represented by General Formula (I), and has a polar group, and a liquid crystal display device containing the same.

To suppress a phenomenon where an optical axis of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted when the optically anisotropic layer is produced by using a liquid crystalline compound showing smectic phase as a materials showing a higher level of orderliness. An optically anisotropic layer wherein a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase, and a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10 or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer, a method for manufacturing the same, a laminate and a method for manufacturing the same, a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL display device.

To suppress a phenomenon where an optical axis of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted when the optically anisotropic layer is produced by using a liquid crystalline compound showing smectic phase as a materials showing a higher level of orderliness. An optically anisotropic layer wherein a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase, and a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10 or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer, a method for manufacturing the same, a laminate and a method for manufacturing the same, a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL display device.

The invention relates to cinnamic acid derivatives of formula S ##STR00001##
wherein the radicals have the meaning indicated in claim 1,
to a process for their preparation and their use as self assembling photoalignment agent in liquid crystal mixtures. The invention further relates to a process for the fabrication of a liquid crystal (LC) display device with homogeneous alignment by photoaligning a liquid crystal mixture with positive or negative dielectric anisotropy comprising one or more compounds of formula S and optionally a polymerizable compound, to the liquid crystal mixture comprising the self assembling photoaligning agent and optionally the polymerizable compound and to the LC display produced by said process.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of liquid crystal materials, and in particular relates to a liquid crystal composition with good frequency dependence and a liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display containing the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition of the present invention comprises a compound represented by Formula I, a compound represented by Formula II and a compound represented by Formula III, wherein the mass percentage content of the compound represented by Formula I is not less than 30%. The liquid crystal composition provided by the present invention has an appropriate optical anisotropy, an appropriate dielectric anisotropy, especially a relatively low rotational viscosity, a good low-temperature mutual solubility and a good reliability, especially good frequency dependence. ##STR00001##

A liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable compound of the present invention has excellent characteristics of being able to prepare a PSA type liquid crystal display element with no problem of depositing in a wide temperature range, having high polymerization speed, high liquid crystal alignment regulation force after polymerization, excellent display qualities with no display unevenness, and excellent display characteristics with no defects in display characteristics such as image sticking and is appropriate as a liquid crystal composition in a practical use. Further, the liquid crystal display element with the above-described liquid crystal composition can be appropriately used for a PSA type liquid crystal display element.

The invention relates to cinnamic acid derivatives of formula S

##STR00001##

wherein the radicals have the meaning indicated in claim 1,
to a process for their preparation and their use as self assembling photoalignment agent in liquid crystal mixtures. The invention further relates to a process for the fabrication of a liquid crystal (LC) display device with homogeneous alignment by photoaligning a liquid crystal mixture with positive or negative dielectric anisotropy comprising one or more compounds of formula S and optionally a polymerisable compound, to the liquid crystal mixture comprising the self assembling photoaligning agent and optionally the polymerisable compound and to the LC display produced by said process.

The present invention relates to polymerisable compounds, to processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof, to liquid-crystal (LC) media comprising them, and to the use of the polymerisable compounds and LC media for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in LC displays, especially in LC displays of the polymer sustained alignment type, or a stabilisers in LC media and LC displays.

There is provided a polymerizable composition, by which discoloration or alignment defects are less likely to occur when a filmy polymer, which is obtained by adding a polymerizable compound to the polymerizable composition and polymerizing this composition, is irradiated with ultraviolet light. There are also provided a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition, and an optically anisotropic body using the polymer. The present invention provides a polymerizable low-wavelength dispersive or polymerizable reverse-wavelength dispersive compound having a partial structure represented by Formula (Z-0). Further, the present invention provides a composition containing the compound; a polymer obtained by polymerizing the composition; and an optically anisotropic body obtained by using the polymer.

##STR00001##

To suppress a phenomenon where an optical axis of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted when the optically anisotropic layer is produced by using a liquid crystalline compound showing smectic phase as a materials showing a higher level of orderliness. An optically anisotropic layer wherein a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase, and a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10 or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer, a method for manufacturing the same, a laminate and a method for manufacturing the same, a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL display device.