The compounds of the formula I X[—Y1—A1—Y2—M—Y3—A2—Z]n  I, wherein the variables are as defined in the specification. The compounds are suitable as alignment layers for liquid-crystalline materials, as photocrosslinkable adhesives, as monomers for the production of liquid-crystalline networks, as base material for the preparation of polymerizable liquid-crystal systems which can be doped by chiral compounds, as polymerizable matrix monomers for polymer-dispersed displays or as base material for polymerizable, liquid-crystalline materials for optical components, such as polarizers, retardation plates or lenses.