5,5′-Substituted-2,2′-bipyridines: A new series of liquid crystalline materials

Abstract
Dissymmetric functionalization of 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine with a ‘stilbene type’ chromophore bearing a terminal alkoxy group leads to a new family of mesomorphic compounds exhibiting a rich thermotropic polymorphism. A succession of smectic B, smectic A and nematic phases was observed. For the octyloxy compound, an additional phase was detected which was hexatic in symmetry.
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