Abstract: A liquid crystalline compound of formula ##STR1## wherein B and D are each independently of the other C.sub.6 -C.sub.24 alkyl, ##STR2## L is ##STR3## methyl or C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkyl, wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.4 -C.sub.18 alkyl, with the proviso that when L is methyl, at least one of B and D is C.sub.6 -C.sub.24 alkyl;R2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, halogen, cyano or nitro,R3, R4 and R5 are each independently of one another hydrogen, OR6, SR6, SeR6, --NHR6, --NR6R7, ##STR4## with the proviso that at least one of R3, R4 and R5 is not hydrogen, R6 is C.sub.7 -C.sub.37 alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.37 alkylene or C.sub.5 -C.sub.18 alkyl which is interrupted by 1 to 6 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N,R7 is hydrogen or R9,R8 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, andR9 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkylene or C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 alkyl which is interrupted by 1 to 6 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N.