Patent ID: 8283000

Claim:
A liquid crystal composition, comprising: 100 parts by mass of a nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈), and 0.01 to 3 parts by mass of a polymerizable compound represented by general formula (I): wherein, ring C 1 , ring C 2 , and ring C 3 each independently represent a benzene ring, a cyclohexane ring, or a naphthalene ring, one or more hydrogen atoms of each of which are optionally 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; M 1 an M 2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; Z 1 represents a direct bond, -L 1 -, -L 1 O—, -L 1 O—CO—, or -L 1 CO—O—, and Z 4 represents a direct bond, -L 2 -, —OL 2 -, —O—COL 2 -, or —CO—OL 2 -, provided that at least one of Z 1 and Z 4 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 being optionally interrupted by one to three oxygen atoms, provided that the two or three interrupting oxygen atoms are not continuous and that the interrupting oxygen atom is not continuous to an oxygen atom adjacent to the alkylene group; when Z 1 and Z 4 are the same, one or more hydrogen atoms of the rings C 1 , C 2 , and C 3 are substituted by 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; Z 2 and Z 3 each independently represent a direct bond, an ester bond, an ether bond, or an optionally branched, saturated or unsaturated alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof; Z 1 and Z 4 are different, or L 1 and L 2 are different; and p and q each independently represent 0 or 1, provided that p+q≧1.