Laterally 4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl substituted three-ring compounds preferably exhibit smectic A phases. However, induction of smectic C phases can be observed in binary mixtures with mesogens having a similar molecular shape but not a strongly polar group at the laterally positioned phenyl ring. The scale of phase induction depends on the length of terminal alkyl chains, type and position of substituents as well as the length of the flexible spacer linking the lateral aryl group to the basic mesogen. X-ray investigations of selected mixtures verify that the structure of induced smectic C phases is intercalated comparable to orthogonal phases of lateral aryl substituted mesogens.