Abstract: Liquid-crystal mixture with a pleochroic anthraquinone dye of the general formula ##STR1## with R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.6 =H, OH, OCH.sub.3, NH.sub.2, NHCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, characterized by the feature that ##STR2## (R.sup.7 =H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylmercapto, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, nitro, cyano, halogen), ##STR3## COOR.sup.9, CH.sub.2 --OR.sup.9 (R.sup.8 =H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylmercapto, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, nitro, cyano, halogen); R.sup.9 =H, alkyl and either R.sup.1, R.sup.4 =H, OH, NH.sub.2, NHCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, NHCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, OCH.sub.3, where at least one of the two radical is an NH.sub.2 or an NHCH.sub.3, R.sup.3 =R.sup.6 =H, or R.sup.3, R.sup.6 =H, OH, NH.sub.2, NHCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, OCH.sub.3, where at least one of the two radicals is an NH.sub.2 or an NHCH.sub.3, R.sup.1 =R.sup.4 =H.

Abstract: Anthraquinone dyes of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.6 are selected from the group consisting of H, OH, OCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2 and NHCH.sub.3 ; R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 are selected from the group consisting of:(a) alkyl-, aryl-, alkaryl-, alkoxyaryl-, aminoaryl-, alkylaminoaryl-, dialkylamino-, arylaminoaryl- or ##STR2## wherein R.sup.7 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl-, aryl-, amino-, alkylamino-, dialkylamino-, arylamino-, alkyloxy-, and aryloxy radicals,along with their syntheses routes are disclosed. The dyes are particularly useful in liquid crystal displays which function with a "guest host" effect or in other electrooptical display devices having a medium therein switchable between different ordering states.