A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1). In formula (1), A.sup.1 is 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl or naphthalene-2,6-diyl, Z.sup.1 is a connecting group, m and n are independently an integer from 0 to 5, in which an expression: 1m+n8 holds, X.sup.1 is alkylene having 1 to 5 carbons, in which an atom thereof may be replaced by a hetero atom, and at least one of R.sup.1 is a polymerizable functional group. ##STR00001##

To provide a liquid crystal display device that has a high off-response speed and a good balance between drive voltage and transmittance, is stable over time, and also has a high voltage holding ratio. A liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer containing a polymer network (A) and a liquid crystal composition (B) is disposed between two substrates having an electrode on at least one side thereof and having transparent properties on at least one side thereof, and the loss factor (tan ) (loss modulus/storage modulus) of the liquid crystal layer calculated from the storage modulus (Pa) and the loss modulus (Pa) in a sinusoidal vibration measured with a rheometer at 25 C. and at a measurement frequency of 1 Hz ranges from 0.1 to 1.

The present application relates to a liquid-crystalline material comprising a sterically hindered N-oxide and a dye. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the liquid-crystalline material in an optical switching device for regulation of the passage of sunlight.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compound having a strong HTP and a high temperature dependence of HTP. In addition, another object is to provide a liquid crystal composition, a cured substance, an optical anisotropic boy, and a reflection film in which the above-described compound is used.

The compound of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1).

##STR00001##

A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a negative liquid crystal layer held between the pair of substrates, a seal portion held between the pair of substrates and disposed around the liquid crystal layer, and a pair of alignment layers each of which is disposed on a surface, adjacent to the liquid crystal layer, of a corresponding one of the substrates. The negative liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition including a compound having a functional group represented by the formula (A) below, the seal portion includes a radical polymerization initiator, the alignment layers include a polymer including polyimide, the polyimide is prepared from polyamic acid as a precursor, and the imidization ratio of the polyimide is not less than 60% with respect to the whole polymer.

##STR00001##

(where X: oxygen radical, hydroxyl group, C.sub.1-20 linear alkyl group, or C.sub.3-20 branched alkyl group, Y1 to Y4: C.sub.1-4 linear alkyl group or C.sub.3-4 branched alkyl group)

The present invention relates to a novel class of polymers which can be used as dielectric material for the preparation of passivation layers in electronic devices. The polymers are prepared from polymerizable compounds having mesogenic groups and they provide excellent film forming capability and excellent mechanical properties and have a low dielectric constant and a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). There is further provided a method for forming said polymers and an electronic device containing said polymers as dielectric material. Beyond that, the present invention relates to a manufacturing method for preparing a packaged microelectronic structure and to a microelectronic device comprising said packaged microelectronic structure formed by said manufacturing method.

Compounds of formula I, ##STR00001##
in which X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Sp, and R are as defined herein, are suitable for use in liquid-crystal media, such as liquid-crystal media used in liquid-crystal displays.

The liquid crystal composition contains one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (I): and one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (J). The liquid crystal composition is highly practical as a liquid crystal composition for liquid crystal displays and is effective in achieving high contrast, faster response, and high quality reliability ##STR00001##

Provided is a polar compound having high chemical stability, high capability of aligning liquid crystal molecules, high solubility in a liquid crystal composition, and a large voltage holding ratio when used in a liquid crystal display device. The compound is represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
in which, for example, R.sup.1 is alkyl having 1 to 15 carbons; MES is a mesogen group having at least one ring; Sp.sup.1 is a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 10 carbons; M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 are hydrogen; and R.sup.2 is a group represented by formulas (1a) to (1c): ##STR00002##
in which, Sp.sup.2 and Sp.sup.3 are a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 10 carbons; S.sup.1 is >CH; S.sup.2 is >C<; and X.sup.1 is OH.

The present invention provides a compound represented by General Formula (I). The compound according to the present invention prevents the liquid crystal composition from being deteriorated due to light, has high compatibility with the liquid crystal composition, and does not impair the storage stability of the liquid crystal composition, thus the compound is useful as a constituent member of a liquid crystal composition. Since the liquid crystal composition and the liquid crystal display element containing the compound of the present invention exhibit UV resistance and have a high VHR, it is possible to obtain a liquid crystal display element with excellent display quality in which display defects such as burn-in and display unevenness do not occur or are suppressed. ##STR00001##