A new series of 2-(4-n-alkoxypheny)-5-(4-methylphenyl)pyridines (CH3C6
H4C5 H4NC6H4-OCnH2m+1, n = 1-10) (APMPP), which ale teraryl compounds
containing a pyridine ring in the centre position of the rigid core,
was synthesized and the phase transitions of the homologues were studi
ed using DSC measurements, polarizing optical microscopy and miscibili
ty tests with terephthalylidene-bis-4-n-pentylaniline (TBPA). Only a n
ematic phase was found for the shorter alkoxy homologues with n < 4. T
he longer alkoxy homologues with n greater than or equal to 4 showed t
he sequence of enantiotropic phase transitions CrG-SmF-SmC-SmA-N-I, wh
ile a monotropic CrH phase was observed for the n = 5-10 homologues. I
nterestingly, the polymesomorphisms appear when it is larger than 4.