SYNTHESIS AND THERMAL-BEHAVIOR OF SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMETHACRYLATES CONTAINING TOLANE-BASED MESOGENIC SIDE-GROUPS

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of nine polymethacrylates containing 4-alkoxy-4'-tri-fluoromethyltolane, 4-alkoxy-4'-cyanotolane, and 4-alkoxy-4'-nitrotolane side groups were described in this study. The phase behavior of the prepared monomers and polymers was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. All of the obtained monomers exhibit no mesophase, while most of the synthesized polymers reveal enantiotropic mesomorphism. The polymethacrylate containing 4-propanyloxy-4'-nitrotolane side groups was the only one which shows no mesomorphic behavior. Both the spacer length and the nature of terminal groups have profound influence on the phase transition temperatures and thermal stability of the mesophase. The polymers with longer spacers tend to form a more ordered mesophase with a wider temperature range. Among three polymers with the same spacer length, the polymer with a trifluoromethyl terminal end group is inclined to form a more ordered mesophase than the other two polymers. No side chain crystallization occurred for all obtained polymers. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.