Abstract Two new series of esters incorporating the 1, 4-disubstituted bicyclo (2.2. 2) octane ring system are reported. Thirty-three 4-n-alkylphenyl 4-n-alkylbicyclo (2.2. 2) octane-1- carboxylates and thirty 4-n-alkoxyphenyl 4-n-alkylbicyclo (2.2. 2) octane-1-carboxylates have been prepared and found to exhibit wide-range nematic phases persisting until higher temperatures than those of the corresponding esters containing either the trans-1, 4- ...