Lyotropic liquid crystal textures for Janus molecules: Tetrahedron Letters 1994, 397-400

The lyotropic liquid crystal textures of two heterotricyclic molecules first described and characterised in Tetrahedron Letters 1994, 397-400, bis-cytosine 2 and bis-guanosine 3  are presented. Each heterocycle presents two recognition “faces” reminiscent of those found in nucleobases. A series of schlieren textures are observed with a tentative assignment of nematic or smectic A type order made. The textures are to be used in publically displayed artwork curated by Mary Courtney, a Coventry-based artist who has received Leverhulme Trust funding with the Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick for her artistic and outreach work.