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 --CH2CH2-- 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.

Abstract: New anisotropic compounds of the formula (1) are useful in liquid crystal mixtures for electrooptical displays; at least one of the end groups of the compounds (1) is an alkyl group which carries cyano or halogen in a terminal or non-terminal position. This offers advantages for longitudinal polarization and/or cross-polarization of the anisotropic compounds with the aid of the comparatively highly polarizing cyano or halogen substituents, in particular high clear points, low ##EQU1## values and/or negative .DELTA..epsilon. values.

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.

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 --CH2CH2-- 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.

Abstract: New anisotropic compounds of the formula (1) are useful in liquid crystal mixtures for electrooptical displays; at least one of the end groups of the compounds (1) is an alkyl group which carries cyano or halogen in a terminal or non-terminal position. This offers advantages for longitudinal polarization and/or cross-polarization of the anisotropic compounds with the aid of the comparatively highly polarizing cyano or halogen substituents, in particular high clear points, low .DELTA..epsilon./.epsilon..perp. values and/or negative .DELTA..epsilon. values.

Abstract: New anisotropic compounds with a cross-polarizing substituent have the formula (1) ##STR1## The increase in .epsilon..perp. is achieved by the polarizing group X, preferably the cyano group or a halogen atom, which is not laterally on the ring, as with the known compounds, but is on the bridge, that is to say is part of the main bridge bonding rings A and B to one another. Ring A has the formula (1a) or (1b) given herein and is always cycloaliphatic, while ring B can be identical to ring A or is an aromatic ring of the formula (1c) or (1d) herein. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different end groups of the formula (1e) herein.The radical X on the bridge causes less widening of the molecule than a radical X on a ring, which provides comparatively higher clear points and moreover enables aromatic rings to be omitted from the anisotropic compounds.

Abstract: New anisotropic compounds with a cross-polarizing substituent have the formula (1) ##STR1## The increase in .epsilon..perp. is achieved by the polarizing group X, preferably the cyano group or a halogen atom, which is not laterally on the ring, as with the known compounds, but is on the bridge, that is to say is part of the main bridge bonding rings A and B to one another. Ring A has the formula (1a) or (1b) given herein and is always cycloaliphatic, while ring B can be identical to ring A or is an aromatic ring of the formula (1c) or (1d) herein. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different end groups of the formula (1e) herein. The radical X on the bridge causes less widening of the molecule than a radical X on a ring, which provides comparatively higher clear points and moreover enables aromatic rings to be omitted from the anisotropic compounds.