A cholesteric liquid crystal composition includes a) a cholesteric liquid crystal compound or a cholesteric liquid crystal precursor; and b) a compound of formula (I), formula (II) or formula (III): ##STR00001## where, n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; m is 1, 2, or 3; R is an acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, isocyanate, epoxy, or silane; R.sub.1 is a (C.sub.3 C.sub.8) alkylene, (C.sub.3 C.sub.8) alkenylene, or (C.sub.3 C.sub.8) alkylyne; R.sub.2 is a bond, --O--, --C(O)O--, --O(O)C--, --OC(O)O--, --C(O)N--, --CH.dbd.N--, --N.dbd.CH--, or --NC(O)--; R.sub.3 is a cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, heterocyclylene, arylene, or hetroarylene; R.sub.4 is a bond, (C.sub.1 C.sub.8) alkylene, (C.sub.2 C.sub.8) alkenylene, (C.sub.2 C.sub.8) alkylyne, carbonyl, --O--, --C(O)O--, --O(O)C--, --OC(O)O--, --C(O)N--, --CH.dbd.N--, --N.dbd.CH--, or --NC(O)--; R.sub.5 is a bond, cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, hetrocyclylene, arylene, or hetroarylene; R.sub.6 is hydrogen, cyano, halo, (C.sub.1 C.sub.8) alkoxy, (C.sub.1 C.sub.8) alkyl, nitro, amino, carboxy, mercapto, (C.sub.1 C.sub.4)thioalkyl, COCH.sub.3, CF.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, or SCF.sub.3; R.sub.7 is a (C.sub.1 C.sub.2) alkylene, (C.sub.2) alkenylene, or (C.sub.2) alkylyne; R.sub.8 is is hydrogen, halo, (C.sub.1 C.sub.8) alkoxy, (C.sub.1 C.sub.8) alkyl, nitro, amino, carboxy, mercapto, (C.sub.1 C.sub.4)thioalkyl, COCH.sub.3, CF.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, or SCF.sub.3; R.sub.9 is a cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, heterocyclylene, arylene, or hetroarylene; and R.sub.10 is a (C.sub.1 C.sub.8) alkylene, (C.sub.2 C.sub.8) alkenylene, or (C.sub.2 C.sub.8) alkylyne.