Substituted phenylbenzoates of the typewhereX= R, RO; (Y= (CH2)nCOR′,n= 1, R′ = C8H17andn= 2, R′ = C7H15have been prepared to determine the effect of the spacer methylene groups on the mesomorphic properties of esters having a ketone chain on the phenolic side. The required precursor phenols were prepared by treatment of the protected acidswith an alkyllithium followed by hydrogenolysis of the benzyl group. The analogous cyclohexane diesterswere also synthesized to test the generality of trends observed in mesomorphic properties. Hot stage polarizing microscopy was used to determine mesomorphic properties. These were compared to those for the esters withY= C10H21, COR′ and (CH2)nCO2R′ (n= 1,2).