OPTICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUND

Japanese Patent JP3796761

B2

PURPOSE: To obtain a new optically active compound which is useful as a starting material for a liquid crystal material for display elements and can be used as an intermediate for medicines, agrochemicals, functional materials. CONSTITUTION: An optically active compound of formula I (X is a 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy, a 2-18C alkoxycarbonyl or an alkanoyloxy, a halogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, H; Y is CH, N), for example, optically active 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,2,2- trofluoro-1-hydroxyethyl)pyrimidine, optically active 1-(4\'-hydroxy-4- biphenylyl)-2,2,2-trifluorethanol. This compound is obtained by using a trifluoracetyl compound of formula II as a starting compound to effect the stereoselective reduction using a reductase, preferably alcohol dehydrogenase. This compound is added to a nematic liquid crystal in a trace amount to inhibit the formation of reverse-twist domain in a liquid crystal cell.