DSC and X-ray diffraction studies on a series of 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(4-alkoxyphenyliminomethyl)benzoates] are presented. The only mesophase exhibited by the methoxy to hexadecyloxy homologues is of the smectic C type. The reversal of the iminomethyl linkage reduces drastically the incidence of a mesophase; that is, only the first five homologous members exhibit a smectic C phase in the series of 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(4-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoates]. Almost all the members in the second series become nematogenic by the chloro substitution at the 4-position of the 1,3-phenylene moiety. In addition, a smectic C phase is observable for the ethoxy to pentyloxy and also the tetradecyloxy and hexadecyloxy members. The second chloro-substituent introduced to the 6-position of the same central ring eliminates completely the smectic C phase and enhances the nematic thermal stability.