R.sub.1 --A--(X).sub.m --(B).sub.n --R.sub.2 (I) R.sub.3 --J--(Y).sub.p --(Z).sub.q --R.sub.4 (II) Liquid crystal compounds of formula (I) are described, where formula (I) is given as R.sub.1 --A--(X).sub.m --(B).sub.n --R.sub.2 where A is selected from nathyl, fluorinated naphthyl, brominated naphthyl, B is selected from phenyl, methylated phenyl, brominated phenyl, fluorinated phenyl, thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from alkyl, alkoxy, alkynyl, thioalkyl, Br, CN, SCN, NCS, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy and hydrogen, X is selected from C.tbd.C, COO and C.tbd.C, m is 0 or 1, n is 0 or 1 where m is 1 and n is 0 where m is 0; provided that where A is naphthyl, n is 1 and m is 0 then B is selected from methylated phenyl, brominated phenyl, thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine; and further provided that where A is naphthyl, X is C.tbd.C, m is 1 and n is 1, then B is selected from thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine. Also described are liquid crystal compounds suitable for inclusion in devices utilizing pretransitional characteristics of liquid crystalline materials in the isotropic phase and described by formula (II): R.sub.3 --J--(Y).sub.p --(Z).sub.q --R.sub.4, where J is selected from nathyl, fluorinated naphthyl, brominated naphthyl, Z is selected from phenyl, methylated phenyl, brominated phenyl, fluorinated phenyl, thiophene, pyrimidine and pyridine, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from alkyl, alkoxy, alkynyl, thioalkyl, Br, CN, SCN, NCS, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy and hydrogen, Y is selected from C.dbd.C, COO and C.dbd.C, p is 0 or 1, q is 0 or 1 where p is 1 and q is 0 where p is 0.