Novel liquid crystal compounds having broader and preferable liquid crystal temperature ranges are provided. Their optically active isomers form a cholesteric liquid crystal, while their racemates form a nematic liquid crystal. The compounds are trans-4"-alkylcyclohexyl esters of 4'-(2-methyl-butyl)-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a straight chain alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the symbol * represents an asymmetric carbon atom.