Liquid crystal composition containing polymerizable compound and liquid crystal display element using the same

1. A polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition comprising:

as a first component, at least one polymerizable compound represented by general formula (I):

wherein Z 11 and Z 12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a cyano group, a thiocyanate group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms where a methylene group in the alkyl group may be substituted with an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCOO—, —CH═CH—, or —C≡C— as long as oxygen atoms are not directly bonded to each other, Z 11 represents -L 15 -S 15 —R 15 , or Z 12 represents -L 16 -S 16 —R 16 , however, at least one of Z 11 and Z 12 represents -L 15 -S 15 —R 15 or -L 16 -S 16 —R 16 where R 15 and R 16 each independently represent any one of formulae (R-1) to (R-15):

S 15 and S 16 each independently represent an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a single bond, where a methylene group in the alkylene group may be substituted with an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCOO—, —CH═CH—, or —C≡C— as long as oxygen atoms are not directly bonded to each other,

L 12 , L 13 , L 15 , and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CH 2 —, —OCH 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —CO—, —C 2 H 4 —, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCOOCH 2 —, —CH 2 OCOO—, —CO—NR 111 —, —NR 111 —CO—, —SCH 2 —, —CH 2 S—, —CH═CR 111 —COO—, —CH═CR 111 —OCO—, —COO—CR 111 ═CH—, —OCO—CR 111 ═CH—, —COO—CR 111 ═CH—COO—, —COO—CR 111 ═CH—OCO—, —OCO—CR 111 ═CH—COO—, —OCO—CR 111 ═CH—OCO—, —COOC 2 H 4 —, —OCOC 2 H 4 —, —C 2 H 4 OCO—, —C 2 H 4 COO—, —CH 2 COO—, —CH 2 OCO—, —COOCH 2 —, —OCOCH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CF═CH—,—CH═CF—, —CF 2 —, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CF 2 —, —CF 2 CF 2 —, or —C≡C— where R 111 s each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,

M 12 and M 13 each independently represent a 1,4-phenytene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a pyridine-2,5-diyl group, a pyrimidine-2,5-dlyl group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl group,

M 11 and M 14 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a benzene-1,3,5-triyl group, a benzene-1,3,4-triyi group, a benzene-1,3,4,5-tetrayl group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a cyclohexane-1,3,5-triyl group, a cyclohexane-1,3,4-triyl group, a cyclohexane-1,3,4,5-tetrayl group, a pyridine-2,5-diyi group, a pyrimidine-2,5-diyl group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a naphthalene-2,5,6-triyl group, a naphthalene-2,5,6,7-tetrayl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a ,1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,5,6-triyl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,5,6,7-tetrayl group, or a 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl group, M 11 , M 12 , M 13 , and M 14 may each be independently unsubstituted or substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a halogenated alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a halogenated alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a halogen, a cyano group, or a nitro group,

m 11 and m 12 each independently represent 0 or 1, m 13 represents 0, 1, 2, or 3, n 11 and n 12 each independently represent 1, 2, or 3, when a plurality of Z 11 s, Z 12 s, M 13 s and/or L 13 s are present, they may be the same or different, m 11+m 12 +m l3 represents 1, 7, or 3, and m ≧m 12 ;

as a second component, at least one compound represented by general formula (II):

wherein R 21 and R 22 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, one methylene group or two or more non-adjacent methylene groups in the alkyl group or the alkenyl group may each be substituted with —O—or —S—, and one or more hydrogen atoms in the alkyl group or the alkenyl group may each be substituted with a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom,

M 21 , M 22 , and M 23 each independently represent a group selected from the groups consisting of

(a) a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group (where one methylene group or two or more non-adjacent methylene groups in the trans-1,4-cycloftexylene group may each be substituted with—O— or —S—),

(b) a 1,4-phenylene group (where one —CH═or two or more non-adjacent —CH═in the 1,4-phenylene group may each be substituted with a nitrogen atom), a 3-fluoro-1,4-phenyiene group, and a 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group, and

(c) a 1,4-cyclohexenylene group, a 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyiene group, a piperidine-2,5-diyl group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, and a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group,

o represents 0, 1, or 2,

L 21 and L 22 each independently represent a single bond, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 4 —, —OCH 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 O—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—N═CH—, or —C≡C—, when a plurality of L 22 s and/or M 23 s are present, they may be the same or different; and

as a third component, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by general formulae (IIIa), (IIIb), and (IIIc):

wherein ,R 31 R 32 , and R 33 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, one methylene group or two or more non-adjacent methylene groups in the alkyl group or the alkenyl group may each be substituted with —O—or —S—, and one or more hydrogen atoms in the alkyl group or the alkenyl group may each be substituted with a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom,

M 31 , M 32 , M 33 , M 34 , M 35 , M 36 , M 37 , and M 38 each independently represent a group selected from the groups consisting of

(d) a trans 1,4-cyclohexylene group (where one methylene group or two or more non-adjacent methylene groups in the trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group may each be substituted with —O— or —S—),

(e) a 1,4-phenylene group (where one —CH═ or two or more non-adjacent —CH═ in the 1,4-phenylene group may each be substituted with a nitrogen atom), a 3-fluoro-,1,4-phenylene group, and a 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene group, and

(f) a 1,4-cyclohexerytene group, a 1 4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octylene group, a piperidine-2,5-diyl group, a naphthatene-2,6-diyl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro apinhalene-2,6-diyl group, and a decahydronaphthatene-2,6-diyl group, a hydrogen atom contained in any of the groups (d), (e), and (f) may be substituted with a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom,

L 31 , L 32 , L 33 , L 34 , L 35 , L 36 , L 37 , and L 38 each independently represent a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 4 —, —OCH 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 O—, or —C≡C—, when a plurality of M 32 s, M 34 s, M 35 s, M 37 s, M 38 s, L 31 s, L 33 s, L 35 s, L 36 s, and/or L 38 s are present, they may be the same or different,

X 31 , X 32 , X 33 , X 34 , X 35 , X 36 , and X 37 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom,

Y 31 , Y 32 , and Y 33 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a cyano group, a thiocyanate group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, or a difluoromethoxy group,

at least one of X 31 , X 32 , and Y 31 represents a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a cyano group, a thiocyanate group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, or a difluoromethoxy group, or at least one hydrogen atom contained in M 31 or M 32 represents a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom,

at least one of X 33 , X 34 , X 35 , and Y 32 represents a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a cyano group, a thiocyanate group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, or a difluoromethoxy group, or at least one hydrogen atom contained in M 33 , M 34 , or M 35 represents a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom,

at least one of X 36 , X 37 , and Y 33 represents a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a cyano group, a thiocyanate group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, or a difluoromethoxy group, or at least one hydrogen atom contained in M 36 , M 37 , or M 38 represents a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom, and

p, q, r, s, and t each independently represent 0, 1, or 2, but q+r and s+t are each 2 or less),

or at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by general formulae (IVa),(IVb), and (IVc):

wherein R 41 , R 42 , R 43 , R 44 , R 45 , and R 46 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, one methylene group or two or more non-adjacent methylene groups in the alkyl group or the alkenyl group may each be substituted with —O— or —S—, and one or more hydrogen atoms in the alkyl group or the alkenyl group may each be substituted with a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom,

M 41 , M 42 , M 43 , M 44 , M 45 , M 46 , M 47 , M 48 , and M 49 each independently represent a group selected from the groups consisting of

(g) a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group (where one methylene group or two or more non-adjacent methylene groups in the trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group may each be substituted with —O— or —S—),

(h) a 1,4-phenylene group (where one —CH═ or two or more non-adjacent —CH═ in the 1,4-phenylene group may each be substituted with a nitrogen atom), and

(i) a 1,4-cyclohexenylene group, a 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octylene group, a piperidine-2,5-diyl group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, and a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a hydrogen atom contained in any of the groups (g), (h), and (i) may he substituted with a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a tritluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom,

L 41 , L 42 , L 43 , L 44 , L 45 , L 46 , L 47 , L 48 , and L 49 each independently represent a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 4 —, —OCH 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CF 2 O—, or —C≡C—, when a plurality of M 42 s, M 43 s, M 45 s, M 46 s, M 48 s, M 49 s, L 41 s, L 43 s, L 44 s, L 46 s, L 47 s and/or L 49 s are present, they may be the same or different,

X 41 , X 42 , X 43 , X 44 , X 45 , X 46 , X 47 and X 48 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a fluorine atom, however, at least one of X 41 and X 42 represents a fluorine atom, at least one of X 43 , X 44 , and X 45 represents a fluorine atom, at least one of X 46 , X 47 , and X 48 represents a fluorine atom, X 46 and X 47 do not represent fluorine atoms at the same time, and X 46 and X 48 do not represent fluorine atoms at the same time,

G represents a methylene group or —O—, and

u, v, w, x, y, and z each independently represent 0, 1, or 2, but u+v, w+x, and y+z are each 2 or less.

2. The polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein, in general formula (I) , Z 11 represents -L 15 -S 15 —R 15 and Z 12 represents -L 16 -S 16 —R 16 .

3. The polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein, in general formula (I), R 15 and R 16 each independently represent formula (R-1) or (R-2).

4. The polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein, in general formula (I), m 11 =m 12 =0.

5. The polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal composition is used in a liquid crystal display element including a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal interposed between the substrates, a transparent electrode, and a polarizer, in which a liquid crystal alignment capability is provided by polymerizing a polymerizable compound contained in the liquid crystal composition.

6. The polymerizable-cornpound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal composition contains 0.01% to 2% by mass of the at least one compound selected from the polymerizable compounds represented by general formula (I), 5% to 70% by mass of the at least one compound selected from the compounds represented by general formula (II), and 5% to 70% by mass of the at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by general formulae (Ina), (IIIb), and (IIIc) or the compounds represented by general formulae (IVa), (IVb), and (IVc).

7. The polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal composition contains, as the third component, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by general formulae (IVa), (IVb), and (IVc).

8. A liquid crystal display element comprising:

the polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 ,

wherein a liquid crystal alignment capability is provided by polymerizing the at least one polymerizable compound contained in the polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition.

9. The liquid crystal display element according to claim 8 , wherein a dielectric anisotropy of the polymerizable-compound-containing liquid crystal composition is negative.