Cholesteric liquid crystal mixture, film, selective reflective plate, laminate, laminated glass

1. A cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture containing a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.

2. The cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture according to claim 1 , wherein T 1 and T 2 in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib) each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have an alkyl group or an alkoxy group as the substituent.

3. The cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture according to claim 1 , wherein the content of the compound represented by the general formula (Ib) relative to the content of the compound represented by the general formula (Ia) is from 5 to 40% by mass.

4. The cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture according to claim 1 , wherein the compound represented by the general formula (Ia) is a compound in which at least one hydrocarbon ring or hetero ring of the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring represented by T 1 and T 2 has an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, and the compound represented by the general formula (Ib) is a compound in which the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring represented by T 1 and T 2 each are an unsubstituted hydrocarbon ring or hetero ring.

5. The cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture according to claim 1 , wherein in the compound represented by the general formula (Ia), n that indicates M 1 is from 2 to 4.

6. A film comprising a support and, as formed on the support, a liquid-crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase formed by polymerizing a cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture is fixed, wherein the cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture contains a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.

7. The film according to claim 6 , containing two or more liquid-crystal layers each with the cholesteric liquid-crystal phase fixed therein.

8. The film according to claim 6 , exhibiting a selective reflection characteristic in an IR wavelength region.

9. The film according to claim 6 , exhibiting a selective reflection characteristic in a UV or visible wavelength region.

10. A selective reflector comprising a film comprising a support and, as formed on the support, a liquid-crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase formed by polymerizing a cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture is fixed, wherein the cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture contains a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that Y 4 , the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.

11. The selective reflector according to claim 10 , containing a λ/2 plate.

12. The selective reflector according to claim 10 , having a highly-adhesive layer as the outermost layer.

13. A laminate which is formed by the use of a selective reflector and which has at least a liquid-crystal layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase of the selective reflector, wherein the selective reflector comprises a film comprising a support and, as formed on the support, a liquid-crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase formed by polymerizing a cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture is fixed, wherein the cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture contains a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.

14. A laminated glass comprising a laminate and at least two glass sheets, wherein:

the laminate is sandwiched between the two glass sheets, the laminate is formed by the use of a selective reflector and has at least a liquid-crystal layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase of the selective reflector, and

the selective reflector comprises a film comprising a support and, as formed on the support, a liquid-crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase formed by polymerizing a cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture is fixed, wherein the cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture contains a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.

15. A windshield for automobiles, comprising a laminate glass comprising a laminate and at least two glass sheets, wherein:

the laminate is sandwiched between the two glass sheets, the laminate is formed by the use of a selective reflector and has at least a liquid-crystal layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase of the selective reflector, and

the selective reflector comprises a film comprising a support and, as formed on the support, a liquid-crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase formed by polymerizing a cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture is fixed, wherein the cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture contains a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.

16. Glass for building materials, comprising a laminate glass comprising a laminate and at least two glass sheets, wherein:

the laminate is sandwiched between the two glass sheets, the laminate is formed by the use of a selective reflector and has at least a liquid-crystal layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase of the selective reflector, and

the selective reflector comprises a film comprising a support and, as formed on the support, a liquid-crystal layer in which a cholesteric liquid-crystal phase formed by polymerizing a cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture is fixed, wherein the cholesteric liquid-crystal mixture contains a compound represented by the following general formula (Ia), a compound represented by the following general formula (Ib), a fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent and a polymerization initiator:

Z 1 —Y 1 -A 1 -Y 3 -M 1 -Y 4 -A 2 -Y 2 —Z 2   General Formula (Ia)

Z 3 —Y 5 -A 3 -Y 7 -M 2 -P  General Formula (Ib)

wherein, in the general formulae (Ia) and (Ib), Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a polymerizable group; A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a spacer having an atom-bonding chain length of from 1 to 30, provided that the spacer represents an alkylene group, or a linking group of multiple alkylene groups bonding to each other via —O— or —CO—; M 1 and M 2 each independently represent (-T 1 -Y 8 ) n -T 2 -; n indicates a natural number; when n is 2 or more, then multiple (-T 1 -Y 8 )'s may be the same or different; T 1 and T 2 each independently represent a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or a saturated or unsaturated hetero ring, provided that the hydrocarbon ring and the hetero ring may have a substituent; Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 , Y 5 , Y 7 and Y 8 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—O—; P represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and

wherein the fluorine-containing horizontal alignment agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (I):

(Hb 11 -Sp 11 -L 11 -Sp 12 -L 12 ) m11 -A 11 -L 13 -T 11 -L 14 -A 12 -(L 15 -Sp 13 -L 16 -Sp 14 -Hb 11 ) n11   General Formula (I)

wherein L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 15 and L 16 each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —COS—, —SCO—, —NRCO—, or —CONR—; R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Sp 11 , Sp 12 , Sp 13 and Sp 14 each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A 11 and A 12 each represent a trivalent or tetravalent aromatic hydrocarbon; Hb 11 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; m11 and n11 each independently indicate from 0 to 3, and

m11+n11≧1; T 11 represents a divalent group represented by any of the following or represents a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group:

wherein X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or an ester group; Ya, Yb, Yc and Yd each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and o and p contained in T 11 each independently indicate an integer of 0 or more.