Although discotic liquid crystals are attractive functional materials, their use in electronic devices is often restricted by high melting and clearing points. Among the promising candidates for applications are [15]crown‐5 ether‐based liquid crystals with peripheral n‐alkoxy sidechains, which, however, still have melting points above room temperature. To overcome this problem, a series of o‐terphenyl
2-phenylpyridine derivatives having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Y is ##STR2## and Z is a straight chain alkyl group having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, ##STR3## R' is a straight chain alkyl group having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is a straight chain alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 1 to 10 and * is an asymmetric carbon are provided. The derivatives are stable, have low viscosity, excellent electro-optical response properties and broaden the ferroelectric temperature range when added to ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions.