Banana-shaped molecules have been prepared and their mesophase behaviour was investigated The constitution of the five-ring compounds was varied, e.g. with the : type and direction of connecting groups and, especially, the influence of substituents situated at different positions of the angled middle part, According to preliminary investigations by X-ray measurements, polarizing microscopy and mixing behaviour several mesophases could be distinguished. Ferroelectricity could be detected only for one of the phases by electrooptical switching and pyroelectrical investigation.