5-Cyano-2-(3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoylamino)tro-pones form hexagonal structures in both liquid-crystalline and gel states. The Figure shows an environmental scanning electron microscopy image of octanol gels. Hydrogen bonding between the tropone carbonyl group and the NH group of troponoid amides plays an important role in flattening the molecules, allowing tighter packing structures and more stable columnar mesophases and gel states.