PURPOSE: To obtain an optically inactive low-molecular compound capable of providing a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition having a large tilt angle even by its addition into a liquid crystal composition so as to improve electric field responsiveness of the liquid crystal composition.

CONSTITUTION: The compound of formula I (R1 is formula II to VII, etc.; R2 is 4-20C optically inactive alkyl; l and m are 0-10; n is 1-10; k is 1-20; Y is single bond, O, COO or OCO), e.g. a compound of formula VIII. This compound of formula VIII is obtained by converting a benzoic acid derivative into an acid chloride according to a pathway expressed by the reactional formula, then reacting the resultant acid chloride with a hydroxyphenylpyrimidine derivative and further reacting the obtained compound with trimethylacetic acid.