Invited Article

Abstract

Several series of phasmids and biforked mesogens or more generally of polycatenar mesogens, i.e. rod-like core mesogens ending in six, five, four or three aliphatic chains (respectively hexa-, penta-, tetra- and tricatenars) are reviewed. According to the number and positions of the aliphatic chains, lamello-columnar, columnar, cubic, smectic and nematic phases appear.