Patent ID: 8663497

Claim:
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.