Liquid crystal composition comprising polymerizable compound, and liquid crystal display element using said liquid crystal composition

1. A liquid crystal composition, comprising 0.01 to 3 parts by mass of a polymerizable compound represented by the following general formula (I) and 100 parts by mass of a nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈):

wherein ring C 1 represents a benzene-1,2,4-triyl group, a cyclohexane-1,2,4-triyl group, or a naphthalene-1,2,6-triyl group; rings C 2 , C 3 and C 4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group or a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an acyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom, as a substituent;

M 1 , M 2 and M 3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;

Z 1 and Z 2 each independently represent a direct bond, -L 1 -, -L 1 O—, -L 1 O—CO —, -L 1 CO—O— or -L 1 O—CO—O—; Z 6 represents a direct bond, -L 2 -, —OL 2 -, —O—COL 2 -, —CO—OL 2 - or —O—CO—OL 2 -; at least any one of Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 6 is not a direct bond; L 1 and L 2 each independently represent an optionally branched alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the alkylene group may be interrupted one to three times with an oxygen atom, and the interruption is achieved such that the oxygen atoms are not adjacent to each other;

Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 each independently represent a direct bond, an ester bond, an ether bond, an optionally branched, saturated or unsaturated alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof; and

p, q and r each independently represent 0 or 1, while 1≦p+q+r≦3 and any of Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 is not a direct bond when p+q+r=1.

2. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ring C 1 in the general formula (I) is a benzene-1,2,4-triyl group, and the rings C 2 , C 3 and C 4 are each independently a 1,4-phenylene group or a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, each of which may be substituted with the substituent.

3. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein in the general formula (I), Z 1 and Z 2 are groups different from Z 6 , and/or L 1 and L 2 are groups different from each other.

4. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 in the general formula (I) are each an ester bond.

5. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (II):

wherein rings B 1 , B 2 , B 3 and B 4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group or a 2,5-indanylene ring; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a chlorine atom or a fluorine atom; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH 2 — in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—; two or more hydrogen atoms of at least one of the rings B 3 and B 4 are substituted by substitutes which may be the same or different and are selected from chlorine, fluorine, —CF 3 —, —OCF 3 , and —OCF 2 H;

Y 1 , Y 2 and Y 3 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CF 2 —CF 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH 2 —O—, —O—CH 2 —, —CF 2 —O—, —O—CF 2 —, —CH 2 —S—, —S—CH 2 —, —CF 2 —S—, —S—CF 2 —, —O—CF 2 —C 2 H 4 , —C 2 H 4 —CF 2 —O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CO—O—, —O—CO—CH 2 —CH 2 — or —C≡C—;

R 3 and R 4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms;

j, k and m each independently represent 0 or 1, while j+k+m≧1; and n represents 0 or 1.

6. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 5 , wherein the liquid crystal compound represented by the general formula (II) is a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (III):

wherein ring B 1 , ring B 2 , Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , R 3 , R 4 , j, k, m and n have the same meanings as defined in the general formula (II); E 1 , E 2 , E 3 and E 4 each represent hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, —CF 3 , —OCF 3 or —OCF 2 H; and at least one of the E 1 /E 2 combination and the E 3 /E 4 combination consists of other than hydrogen.

7. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) further contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (IV):

wherein rings A 1 , A 2 and A 3 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH 2 — in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—;

X 1 and X 2 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CF 2 —CF 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH 2 —O—, —O—CH 2 —, —CF 2 —O—, —O—CF 2 — or —C≡C—;

R 1 and R 2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and

g and h each independently represent 0 or 1.

8. An electro-optical display element, produced by sandwiching the liquid crystal composition according to claim 1 between a pair of substrates, with at least one of the substrates including thereon an electrode for applying a voltage to liquid crystal molecules, subsequently irradiating the liquid crystal composition with an energy radiation, and thereby polymerizing the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) contained in the liquid crystal composition.

9. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 2 , wherein in the general formula (I), Z1 and Z2 are groups different from Z6, and/or L1 and L2 are groups different from each other.

10. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 2 , wherein Z3, Z4 and Z5 in the general formula (I) are each an ester bond.

11. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 3 , wherein Z3, Z4 and Z5 in the general formula (I) are each an ester bond.

12. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 2 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (II):

wherein rings B1, B2, B3 and B4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group or a 2,5-indanylene ring; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a chlorine atom or a fluorine atom; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—; two or more hydrogen atoms of at least one of the rings B3 and B4 are substituted by substitutes which may be the same or different and are selected from chlorine, fluorine, —CF3-, —OCF3, and —OCF2H;

Y1, Y2 and Y3 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2-, —CH2-S—, —S—CH2-, —CF2-S—, —S—CF2-, —O—CF2-C2H4-, —C2H4-CF2-O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH2-CH2-CO—O—, —O—CO—CH2-CH2- or —C≡C—;

R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms;

j, k and m each independently represent 0 or 1, while j+k+m≧1; and n represents 0 or 1.

13. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 3 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (II):

wherein rings B1, B2, B3 and B4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group or a 2,5-indanylene ring; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a chlorine atom or a fluorine atom; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—; two or more hydrogen atoms of at least one of the rings B3 and B4 are substituted by substitutes which may be the same or different and are selected from chlorine, fluorine, —CF3-, —OCF3, and —OCF2H;

Y1, Y2 and Y3 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2-, —CH2-S—, —S—CH2-, —CF2-S—, —S—CF2-, —O—CF2-C2H4-, —C2H4-CF2-O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH2-CH2-CO—O—, —O—CO—CH2-CH2- or —C≡C—;

R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms;

j, k and m each independently represent 0 or 1, while j+k+m≧1; and n represents 0 or 1.

14. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 4 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (II):

wherein rings B1, B2, B3 and B4 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group or a 2,5-indanylene ring; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a chlorine atom or a fluorine atom; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—; two or more hydrogen atoms of at least one of the rings B3 and B4 are substituted by substitutes which may be the same or different and are selected from chlorine, fluorine, —CF3-, —OCF3, and —OCF2H;

Y1, Y2 and Y3 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2-, —CH2-S—, —S—CH2-, —CF2-S—, —S—CF2-, —O—CF2-C2H4-, —C2H4-CF2-O—, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH2-CH2-CO—O—, —O—CO—CH2-CH2- or —C≡C—;

R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms;

j, k and m each independently represent 0 or 1, while j+k+m≧1; and n represents 0 or 1.

15. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 2 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) further contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (IV):

wherein rings A1, A2 and A3 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—;

X1 and X2 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2- or —C≡C—;

R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and

g and h each independently represent 0 or 1.

16. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 3 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) further contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (IV):

wherein rings A1, A2 and A3 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—;

X1 and X2 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2- or —C≡C—;

R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and

g and h each independently represent 0 or 1.

17. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 4 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) further contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (IV):

wherein rings A1, A2 and A3 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—;

X1 and X2 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2- or —C≡C—;

R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and

g and h each independently represent 0 or 1.

18. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 5 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) further contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (IV):

wherein rings A1, A2 and A3 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—;

X1 and X2 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2- or —C≡C—;

R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and

g and h each independently represent 0 or 1.

19. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 6 , wherein the nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) further contains a liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (IV):

wherein rings A1, A2 and A3 each independently represent a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a 1,4-cyclohexylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; at least one hydrogen atom of these rings may be independently substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; —CH═ in these rings may be substituted with —N═; —CH2- in these rings may be substituted with —S—, —N═ or —O—;

X1 and X2 each independently represent a direct bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CF2-CF2-, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —CH2-O—, —O—CH2-, —CF2-O—, —O—CF2- or —C≡C—;

R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and

g and h each independently represent 0 or 1.

20. An electro-optical display element, produced by sandwiching the liquid crystal composition according to claim 2 between a pair of substrates, with at least one of the substrates including thereon an electrode for applying a voltage to liquid crystal molecules, subsequently irradiating the liquid crystal composition with an energy radiation, and thereby polymerizing the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) contained in the liquid crystal composition.