The present invention aims to provide a polymerizable compound that has high storage stability without causing crystal precipitation when added to a polymerizable composition and to provide a polymerizable composition containing the polymerizable compound. A polymer film produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition has a low haze, high thickness uniformity, low occurrence of nonuniform orientation, high surface hardness, high adhesiveness, and good appearances and fewer orientation defects even after ultraviolet irradiation. The present invention also aims to provide a polymer produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body produced from the polymer.

The present invention relates to a compound of the general formula I ##STR00001##
in which the occurring groups and parameters have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to the use thereof in liquid-crystalline or mesogenic media and to liquid-crystalline or mesogenic media comprising these derivatives.

The present invention aims to provide a polymerizable compound that has high storage stability without causing crystal precipitation when added to a polymerizable composition and to provide a polymerizable composition containing the polymerizable compound. A polymer film produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition has a low haze, high thickness uniformity, low occurrence of nonuniform orientation, high surface hardness, high adhesiveness, and good appearances and fewer orientation defects even after ultraviolet irradiation. The present invention also aims to provide a polymer produced by polymerization of the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body produced from the polymer.

Provided is a composition which can be used for formation of an optical film having high quality and a high dichroic ratio even after the composition is stored for a predetermined period of time. The composition includes a compound represented by the general formula (A) and a compound represented by the general formula (B), wherein R.sup.1a in the general formula (A) and R.sup.1b in the general formula (B) are mutually different groups.

R.sup.1a—Ar.sup.1a—N═N—Ar.sup.2a—N═N—Ar.sup.3a—R.sup.10a   (A)

R.sup.1b—Ar.sup.1b—N═N—Ar.sup.2b—N═N—Ar.sup.3b—R.sup.10a   (B)

An optical film of the present invention includes a positive A-plate and a positive C-plate, in which the Re(450), Re(550), and Re(650) of the positive A-plate satisfy the relationship of Re(450)≦Re(550)≦Re(650), the positive A-plate is formed of a cured product of a composition including the liquid crystal compound A, and the positive C-plate is formed of a cured product of a composition including the liquid crystal compound C.

The present invention relates to a compound of the general formula I

##STR00001##

in which the occurring groups and parameters have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to the use thereof in liquid-crystalline or mesogenic media and to liquid-crystalline or mesogenic media comprising these derivatives.

An optically anisotropic layer is formed by a liquid crystal compound represented by General Formula 1, in which the long axes of the molecules are oriented. ##STR00001##
wherein L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 independently represent a linking group having a carbonyl group; F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom; n and m independently represent an integer from 0 to 4; a and b independently represent an integer from 1 to 4; T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 independently represent a spacer portion including a straight chain or branched alkylene or alkylene oxide group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and Ar represents a divalent group having at least one aromatic ring selected from a group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon rings and aromatic heterocycles, the number of Π electrons in the Ar group being 8 or greater.

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device comprising an array substrate and an opposite substrate arranged facing the array substrate, wherein the structure of said array substrate comprises elongated and evenly spaced slit electrodes and electrode gaps between the slit electrodes, and said opposite substrate comprises a bulk electrode; and further comprises a liquid crystal composition between said array substrate and the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a higher light transmittance, such that more backlight passes through the liquid crystal display device, resulting in the liquid crystal display device having a higher luminance.

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device comprising an array substrate and an opposite substrate arranged facing the array substrate, and further comprises a liquid crystal composition located between said array substrate and the opposite substrate, wherein said array substrate comprises elongated and evenly spaced slit electrodes and electrode gaps between the slit electrodes, with the slit electrodes and the electrode gaps said being located in the same layer structure; said array substrate comprises a bulk electrode below the slit electrodes; and said array substrate further comprises an insulating layer between the slit electrodes and the bulk electrode. The liquid crystal display device has a higher light transmittance, such that more backlight passes through the liquid crystal display device, resulting in the liquid crystal display device having a higher luminance.

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device comprising an array substrate and an opposite substrate arranged facing the array substrate, wherein the structure of said array substrate comprises elongated and evenly spaced slit electrodes and electrode gaps between the slit electrodes, and said opposite substrate comprises a bulk electrode; and further comprises a liquid crystal composition between said array substrate and the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a higher light transmittance, such that more backlight passes through the liquid crystal display device, resulting in the liquid crystal display device having a higher luminance.