Lyotropic Liquid-Crystalline Behavior in Disc-Shaped Compounds Incorporating the 3,3′-Di(acylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine Unit

An extended-core liquid crystal (LC) based on the 3,3′-di(acylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine unit is investigated with respect to its behavior in alkane solvents. It is demonstrated that the lyotropic mesomorphism observed in dodecane can be tuned by varying the concentration of the sample, and the columns can be switched in an electric field. The Figure shows the structure of the columnar nematic phase present in dodecane containing 15.7 wt.-% LC.