Lyotropic liquid crystalline behaviour in disc-shaped compounds incorporating the 3,3'-di(acylamino)-2,2'-bipyridine unit

It is reported on the lyotropic mesomorphism obsd. when the title compds. are dissolved in alkane solvents (hexane, cyclohexane, dodecane). The nature of the mesophase present was investigated by polarization microscopy and XRD. The effect of the solvent on the clearing temp. was evaluated. The feasibility of orienting the columnar mesophase in large monodomains in an elec. field is discusse