The mesomorphic properties of N-[4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)benzylidene]-2-and -3-X-aniline$, where X = Me,F,CI,Br or I, were examined. The 2-Me derivatives give higher nematicisotropic transition temperatures than the 3-Me derivatives, whereas the reverse is true for the F compounds. The intersection between the plots of the transition temperatures of the 2-X and 3-X derivatives against the alkyl chain length is found for the CI, Br, and I compounds, respectively. The smectic A-nematic transition temperature recorded for the heptyloxy member is promoted by the 3-X substitution as much as 32°C (X = F ) and 16" (X = Cl).