The chroman compounds of the formula I according to the invention R1-(A1-Z1)a—W1—(Z2-A2)b-Z3—W2—(Z4-A3)c-R2 in which R1, A1, A2, A3, W1, W2, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, a, b and c have the meanings indicated in claim 1, have two moieties W1 and W2 derived from chroman. The compounds are suitable as components of anisotropic switching media, as used, for example, in liquid-crystal display devices.