PURPOSE: To provide the formyloxybenzene derivative capable of lowering the anisotropy of the refractive index of a liquid crystal composition without increasing the viscosity of the liquid crystal composition by adding the formyloxybenzene derivative to a nematic liquid crystal material.
CONSTITUTION: A compound of formula I (R is 1-12C alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyl; Z is direct bond, COO, OCO, OCH2, C≡C, CH2CH2; ring A, ring B are group of formula II, group of formula III; n is 0-2), e.g. trans-4-n- propylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid-4'-formyloxyphenyl ester. The compound is obtained by reacting a phenol derivative having a liquid crystal skeleton with formic acid in the presence of a dehydrating agent such as dicyclohexyl carbodiimide to formylate the phenolic hydroxyl group.
NISHIKAWA KAZUNORI
