A series of novel aromatic polyamides containing 2,2'-bipyridine moiety were synthesized by polycondensation of 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid (2) with various aromatic diamines in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) containing lithium chloride. The resulting polyamide solutions in 98% sulfuric acid and in HMPA-LiCl exhibited lyotropic liquid crystal phases. The phase transition behaviors were studied by polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The polyamides also formed metal complexes with cis-dichlorobis(bipyridine)ruthenium dihydrate [cis-Ru(bpy)(2)Cl-2 . 2H(2)O] which was supported by changes in electronic spectra.