Abstract: Liquid crystal compositions are described which comprise a mixture of compounds and which includes at least one additive compound characterized in that the composition includes one or more additive compounds of Formula I as follows: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group, R.sub.2 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group or hydrogen and ##STR2## represents a 1,4-disubstituted bicyclo(2,2,2)octane ring. The preparation and properties of novel compounds of Formula I are also described. These liquid crystal compositions are useful in display devices such as digital calculators and word displays.