Whereas perylene tetracarboxdiimides derived from amino-n-alkanes if at all only show monotropic (thermodynamically unstable) mesogenic self-assembly, the hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline state can be stabilized over a broad temperature range with doubly branched, doubly racemic alkyl residues. An improved tendency to homeotropic surface orientation is observed, and the orientation of the liquid crystalline domains is maintained upon cycling through the crystalline state at room temperature.

The photocyclization of tetraethyl 1,4‐phenylenebis(phenylmaleate) in the presence of iodine and oxygen predominantly yields tetraethyl [5]helicene‐5,6,9,10‐tetracarboxylate, together with small amounts of tetraethyl dibenz[a,h]anthracene‐5,6,12,13‐tetracarboxylate and tetraethyl benzo[ghi]perylene‐3,4,11,12‐tetracarboxylate. The helicene tetraester is planarized to the benzoperylene tetraester by Scholl reaction with AlCl3 followed by reesterification of the partially hydrolyzed crude product. Subsequent treatment with a branched alkylamine yields a columnar liquid‐crystalline benzoperylene diimide whose mesophase is stable at room temperature despite its limited and non‐centrosymmetric alkyl periphery. Its absorption spectrum is markedly red‐shifted compared to that of a similar benzoperylene triimide.