The invention relates to novel compositions comprising at least two anisotropic compounds of formula ##STR00001##
as well as to liquid crystalline networks, films and electro-optical devices comprising the compositions.

The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium which comprises at least one compound of the formula I,

##STR00001## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.1* each, independently of one another, denote an alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1 to 15 C atoms, where, in addition, one or more CH.sub.2 groups in these radicals may each be replaced, independently of one another, by

##STR00002##

in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen, A.sup.1 denotes

##STR00003## L.sup.1 denotes F, Cl, CF.sub.3, OCF.sub.3 or CHF.sub.2,
and to the use thereof for electro-optical purposes, in particular for shutter glasses, 3D applications, in TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS and PS-VA-IPS displays.

The present invention relates to a switch element, which is thermoresponsive and which switches between a less transmissive state for radiant energy and a more transmissive state for radiant energy, and which comprises a liquid-crystalline medium. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the switch element for the regulation of radiant energy flow between interior spaces and the environment and for the regulation of the temperature of interior spaces. The invention furthermore relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterised in that it comprises 5-95% of a compound of the formula (I), in particular for use in the switch elements according to the invention.