| abstract |
New anisotropic compounds with a cross-polarizing substituent have the formula (1) ##STR1## The increase in ε⊥ is achieved by the polarizing group X, preferably the cyano group or a halogen atom, which is not laterally on the ring, as with the known compounds, but is on the bridge, that is to say is part of the main bridge bonding rings A and B to one another. Ring A has the formula (1a) or (1b) given herein and is always cycloaliphatic, while ring B can be identical to ring A or is an aromatic ring of the formula (1c) or (1d) herein. R 1 and R 2 are identical or different end groups of the formula (1e) herein. The radical X on the bridge causes less widening of the molecule than a radical X on a ring, which provides comparatively higher clear points and moreover enables aromatic rings to be omitted from the anisotropic compounds. |