The synthesis and investigation of the liquid-crystalline phase behaviour of a series of N,N-bis(1-deoxy-D-mannitol-1-yl)-alkamides

The results of our synthetic efforts and the investigation of the liquid-cr ystalline phase behaviour of a series of bis-mannosyl-amides are presented. In this investigation the structure of the polar carbohydrate groups was k ept constant and the length of the terminal alkyl chain was varied between seven and twelve methylene groups. The results obtained from the DSC measur ements, optical polarising microscopy and X-ray diffraction experiments wil l be reported and a structural model will be discussed.