A compound of the formula (I) is described where: R1 is a) H b) a straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms or a straight-chain or branched alkenyl radical having from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which b1) one or more nonadjacent and nonterminal CH2 groups may be replaced by —O—, —C(═O)O—, —O—C(═O)—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —C(═O)— or —Si(CH3)2— and/or b2) one CH2 group may be replaced by —C≡C—, cyclopropane-1,2-diyl, cyclobutane-1,3-diyl, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl or phenylene-1,4-diyl and/or b3) one or more hydrogen atoms may be replaced by F and/or Cl c) -M1-A1-R5 R2 has the same possible definitions as specified for R1, with the exception of H, but independently of the definition of R1 and R5 R5 has the same possible definitions as specified for R1, with the exception of -M1-A1-R5, but independently of the definition of R1 and R3 M1 is —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH2—O—, —O—CH2—, —CF2—O—, —O—CF2—, —CH═CH—, —CF═CF—, —C≡C—, —CH2—CH2—CO—O—, —O—CO—CH2—CH2—, —CH2—CH2—, —CF2—CF2—, —(CH2)4—, —OC(═O)CF═CF— or a single bond A1 is 1,4-phenylene in which one or two hydrogen atoms may be replaced by F, Cl, CN and/or OCF3 or three hydrogen atoms may be replaced by fluorine, 1,4-cyclohexylene in which one or two hydrogen atoms may be replaced by CH3 and/or F, 1-cyclohexene-1,4-diyl in which one hydrogen atom may be replaced by CH3 or F, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl in which one hydrogen atom may be replaced by F, or 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl p, q, rare each independently 0 or 1, i.e. at the value zero, —H is present at the appropriate position instead of —F, with the proviso that: at least one of p, q, r is 1.