Approaches to the synthesis of novel photoactive side chain liquid crystalline polymers containing analogues of the cinnamate ester group

Whitcombe, M.J., Gilbert, A. and Mitchell, G.R. (1990) Approaches to the synthesis of novel photoactive side chain liquid crystalline polymers containing analogues of the cinnamate ester group. Polymer International, 23 (1-2). pp. 77-82. ISSN 0959-8103 doi: 10.1002/pi.4980230114

Abstract/Summary

A series of chain liquid crystalline copolymers of 4-cyanophenyl 4′-(6-methacryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoate and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl β-(1-naphthyl)-propenoate were prepared by free radical polymerization. The corresponding polyacrylates could not be prepared in the same way and an alternative method was used for their preparation involving the synthesis of copolymers of the mesogenic monomer and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate followed by treatment of the resulting polymers with β-(1-naphthyl)propenoyl chloride. The materials are of interest as photoactive liquid crystalline polymers. The effect of introducing a bulky nonmesogenic group into a liquid crystalline copolymer generally lowers the clearing temperature and raises Tg but also gives rise to contrasting phase behaviour in these two series of polymers. Polymethacrylates which show mesomorphism have sharp transitions and continue to exhibit a highly ordered smectic phase over the bulk of their liquid crystal range. Polyacrylates, on the other hand, exhibit a weakening and broadening-out of their thermal transitions consistent with a lowering of order. These results emphasize the effect of the polymer backbone on phase behaviour.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/26928
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) > Electron Microscopy Laboratory (CAF)
Publisher	Society of Chemical Industry
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