The crystal and molecular structures of (R)-4'-(2,3-dihydroxypropyloxy)-4-cyanobiphenyl, 1 and 4'-(cis-cis-3,5-dihydroxycy~l0hexyloxy)-4-cyanobiphenyl, 5 have been determined. The packing of compound 1 occurs in sheets, with a dense hydrogen bonding network within the layer of one sheet and to the next sheet, whereby the cyano groups are incorporated into the hydrogen bonding network. The hydrogen bonding scheme of compound 5 involves a water molecule; there is some disorder with regard to the hydrogen atoms bound to the water molecules.