Three new homologous series of mesogens containing three rings in the main structure and a lateral aromatic branch have been synthesized. When the lateral aromatic branch is attached to the middle ring, monotropic phases are observed, and there is a strong tendency to form the smectic C phase. When the lateral aromatic branch is attached to an outer ring, the compounds possess purely enantiotropic nematic phases. The terminal alkoxy chain in the outer ring which has a lateral aromatic substituent can be replaced by a rigid group without disturbing the large nematic range. Selective introduction of a particular substitutent may be useful for the construction of devices possessing desirable characteristics such as non-linear optical properties.