Benzonitrile is an aromatic nitrile whose benzene ring is substituted with a cyanide group. They are valuable building blocks for LC materials due to their ability to form stable liquid crystal phases and high chemical stability. Benzonitriles can be used to design LC materials with specific electrical and optical properties, such as high dielectric anisotropy and low viscosity. Their reactivity towards various chemical transformations allows the preparation of LC compounds with properties tailored for specific applications, such as fast-switching LCDs. The cyanide group in benzonitrile can be used as a handle for further chemical modifications, enabling the synthesis of more complex and functional LC materials.