Preliminary Communications Thermotropic liquid crystal behaviour of 5,5′-[(4-hexadecyloxyphenyl)ethynyl]-2,2′-bipyridine

Abstract
5,5′-[(4-Hexadecyloxyphenyl)ethynyl]-2,2′-bipyridine was synthesized by a palladium(O) cross-coupling reaction. Its thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour was analysed using differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Three enantiotropic tilted smectic phases were identified upon heating: SF, SI, and SC.