PURPOSE: To obtain a new optically active compound useful as a component of a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition of ferroelectric liquid crystal display, namely as a component capable of actualizing high-speed response.

CONSTITUTION: An optically active compound of formula I [A is pyrimidine ring; (m) is 4-11; R1 is (halogenated) alkyl or (halogenated) alkoxy with the proviso that one or more nonadjacent methylene groups may be replaced with 0, S or CO; R2 is (substituted) alkyl] such as 2-fluoro-7-methoxy-1-[40[2-(4- heptylphenyl)-5-pyrimidyl]phenyloxy]heptane. The compound of formula I, for example, is obtained by reacting a compound of formula (1) as a starting substance with compound of formula (2) to give a compound of formula (3), making this compound through a compound of formula (4) and a compound of formula (5) into a compound of formula (6) and finally reacting this compound with a compound of formula (7).