Abstract: This invention provides an optical information recording medium that has, on a substrate, a recording layer containing a cyanine dye represented by the general formula: ##STR1## (wherein, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be the same or different and each stands for a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; X stands for a perhalogenate ion, a toluenesulfonate ion or an alkylsulfate ion; n stands for an integrer of 0 or 1-3; a first halogen atom is present in at least one of each 4, 6 and 7-positions of the indole and indolenine rings; a second halogen atom may be present in each 5-position of said rings; and at lest one group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy, allyl and alkylcarbonyl may be present in at least one of each 4, 5, 6 and 7-positions of said rings.) and, if necessary, a transition metal complex or a salt of said complex with a cation.

Abstract: New dichroic dyestuffs for the guest-host type liquid crystal and new liquid crystal compositions containing said dyestuff having an excellent improved dichroism and being prepared by introducing at least one group selected from the group consisting of phenyl, cyclohexyl, phenylcarbonyloxy and phenyloxycarbonyl group into a phenyl, a cyclohexyl or a naphthyl group at its 4-position, which is arranged at the end of a known dichroic dyestuff molecule along the major axis of the molecule.