Alkylamino- and formyl alkylamino-cyano Schiff's base, biphenyl and phenylbenzoate liquid crystals were synthesized. The mesomorphic behaviour of these compounds is described. The introduction of the formyl group in the higher homologues lead to the disappearance of the mesophase. The alkylamino and formylalkylamino substituents are strong electron donating groups and lead to nematic phases with remarkably high positive dielectric anisotropy