Abstract: Anisotropic compounds having a nematic phase have the formula ##STR1## wherein A is a cyclic radical selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## Z is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- group, a methyleneoxy group and an oxymethylene group,n is 1 or 2,p is 0, 1, or 2,r is 0 or 1,X is selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, nitrile and methyl,R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkanoyloxy and C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkylamino and cyclic groups of the formulas ##STR3## wherein R.sup.3 through R.sup.6 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkanoyloxy, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkylamino, and Z.sup.2 through Z.sup.