The present invention provides a compound represented by the general formula (i), which has a partial structure K.sup.i1 represented by one of the general formulae (K-1) to (K-6) and has a ring B with at least one P-Sp- group and with at least one R.sup.i2 (R.sup.i2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a linear or branched halogenated alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, CH.sub.2 in the alkyl or halogenated alkyl group is optionally substituted with CHCH, O, COO, or OCO, but O is not adjacent to another O). Thus, the compound in a liquid crystal composition adsorbs to substrates between which the liquid crystal composition (a liquid crystal layer) exists. The compound can hold vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules, can improve alignment stability, and can ensure low-temperature storage stability.

The present invention provides a compound represented by the general formula (i), which has a partial structure K.sup.i1 represented by one of the general formulae (K-1) to (K-6) and has a ring B with at least one P-Sp- group and with at least one R.sup.i2 (R.sup.i2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or a linear or branched halogenated alkyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, CH.sub.2 in the alkyl or halogenated alkyl group is optionally substituted with CHCH, O, COO, or OCO, but O is not adjacent to another O). Thus, the compound in a liquid crystal composition adsorbs to substrates between which the liquid crystal composition (a liquid crystal layer) exists. The compound can hold vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules, can improve alignment stability, and can ensure low-temperature storage stability.

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an alkylfluoroacrylate starting from alkylfluoroacetate and an oxalic acid ester, wherein an alkane liquid under the reaction conditions is applied as the solvent in one of the reaction steps.

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an alkylfluoroacrylate starting from alkylfluoroacetate and an oxalic acid ester, wherein an alkane liquid under the reaction conditions is applied as the solvent in one of the reaction steps.

A method for producing esters of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid are disclosed, the method includes reacting a three or four carbon beta-hydroxyalkanoate composition or mixtures thereof with a mono-alcohol under heating conditions to form a reaction product and distilling the reaction product to recover a composition containing at least fifty percent by weight of the ester of the alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid.

A method for producing esters of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid are disclosed, the method includes reacting a three or four carbon beta-hydroxyalkanoate composition or mixtures thereof with a mono-alcohol under heating conditions to form a reaction product and distilling the reaction product to recover a composition containing at least fifty percent by weight of the ester of the alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a 2-fluoroacrylate, comprising the steps of: (1) mixing a vinyl ether having the structure of formula A with dichloromonofluoromethane to yield a substituted cyclopropane compound having the structure of formula B; (2) mixing the substituted cyclopropane compound having the structure of formula B with R.sup.2OH to yield an acetal product having the structure of formula C, followed by hydrolysis to yield 2-fluoroacrylaldehyde having the structure of formula D; or reacting the substituted cyclopropane compound having the structure of formula B with water to yield 2-fluoroacrylaldehyde having the structure of formula D via hydrolysis; (3) oxidizing 2-fluoroacrylaldehyde having the structure of formula D to yield 2-fluoroacrylic acid having the structure of formula E; and (4) mixing 2-fluoroacrylic acid having the structure of formula E with R.sup.3OH to yield a 2-fluoroacrylate having the structure of formula F.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a 2-fluoroacrylate, comprising the steps of: (1) mixing a vinyl ether having the structure of formula A with dichloromonofluoromethane to yield a substituted cyclopropane compound having the structure of formula B; (2) mixing the substituted cyclopropane compound having the structure of formula B with R.sup.2OH to yield an acetal product having the structure of formula C, followed by hydrolysis to yield 2-fluoroacrylaldehyde having the structure of formula D; or reacting the substituted cyclopropane compound having the structure of formula B with water to yield 2-fluoroacrylaldehyde having the structure of formula D via hydrolysis; (3) oxidizing 2-fluoroacrylaldehyde having the structure of formula D to yield 2-fluoroacrylic acid having the structure of formula E; and (4) mixing 2-fluoroacrylic acid having the structure of formula E with R.sup.3OH to yield a 2-fluoroacrylate having the structure of formula F.

The present invention provides a polymerizable compound with a structure of general formula I, which exhibits none or few of the problems existing in the prior art. A polymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising the polymerizable compound has good stability and higher reliability, and is embodied by having a smaller pretilt angle change and higher voltage holding ratio. Also, there is little or no image sticking effect in a liquid crystal display device comprising the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The present invention also provides a method of synthesizing a polymerizable compound with a structure of general formula I. The present invention further provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising the polymerizable compound and a liquid crystal display device comprising the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

##STR00001##

A curable composition containing at least one of a haloalkyl ether (meth)acrylate or a haloalkenyl ether (meth)acrylate and, optionally, one or more different types of co-monomers is cured to provide a polymer having advantageous properties as a result of the incorporation of halogenated functionality derived from the haloalkyl/haloalkenyl ether (meth)acrylate monomer.