NMR study of a phasmid-like liquid crystal

► TDPABA is a semi-phasmidic liquid crystal giving nematic and columnar phases. ► We study orientational order properties of TDPABA by 13C NMR and DFT. ► TDPABA molecules form dimeric structures in solution and in the nematic phase. ► Order parameters in the nematic phase are quite high. ► Motion about column axes is frozen in the columnar phase.