The invention relates to new polymerisable mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising a laterally substituted cinnamate group, to polymerisable mesogenic or liquid crystalline mixtures and anisotropic polymers prepared thereof, and to the use of the new compounds and the mixtures and polymers prepared thereof in optical and electrooptical devices, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics, liquid crystal pigments, decorative and security applications, nonlinear optics, optical information storage, electronic devices like organic field effect transistors (FET or OFET), electroluminescent devices, or as chiral dopants.