Polymerizable liquid crystalline compounds

A reactive liquid crystalline compound of formula I wherein R 1 is CH 2 =CW-COO-, HWN-, CH 2 =CH- or HS-CH 2 -(CH 2 ) m -COO- with W being H, Cl or alkyl with 1-5 C atoms and m being 1-7, P is alkylene with up to 12 C atoms, it being possible for one or more non adjacent CH 2 groups to be replaced by -O-, X is -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -OCO-, -C* identical with *C- or a single bond, R 2 is an optinally fluorinated alkyl radical with up to 15 C atoms, it being possible for one or more CH 2 groups to be replaced by -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -OCO-, -O-CO-O- in such a manner that oxygen atoms are not linked directly to one another, or alternatively R 2 is halogen, cyano or has independently one of the meanings given for R 1 -P-X-, Z is -CH 2 -CH 2 -, -COO-, -O-CO-, -CH=CH-COO-, -O-CO-CH=CH- or a single bond, and are each independently denoting 1,4-phenylene or trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, it being possible for these rings to be substituted by one or more alkyl or alkanoyl radicals with 1 to 7 C atoms, -CN or halogen atoms, and n is 0 or 1, or a polymer thereof has liquid crystalline activity.