Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal for modulating light in electrooptical devices comprises:A. A 5-substituted-2-(4-substituted-phenyl)-pyrimidine of the formula ##STR1## or a homolog thereof, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 being the same or different and being selected from the group consisting of C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 --, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 O--, C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 COO-- or C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 CO-- and n=1 to 12;B. A 4-substituted-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid-(4-substituted-phenylester) of the formula ##STR2## or a homolog thereof, R being --C.sub.m H.sub.2m+1, --OC.sub.m H.sub.2m+1, --COC.sub.m H.sub.2m+1, --CN or --NO.sub.2, and n, m=1-10, andC. A 4-substituted-benzoic acid-(4-cyanophenylester) of the formula ##STR3## or a homolog thereof, R being C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 -- or C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 O-- and n=1 to 14.