The helical twisting power ofpoly(y-benzyl L-glutamate) liquid crystals in mixed solvents has been examined as a function of the solvent composition and temperature. Dioxane, ethylene dichloride, m-cresol, and trifluoroacetic acid have been employed as solvents. The helical twisting power in the dioxane-ethylene dichloride system varies linearly with the solvent composition, while in the m-cresol-ethylene dichloride system, it varies as a quadratic function of the solvent composition. The addition of a small amount of trifluoroacetic acid (up to 6%) to the ethylene dichloride solution causes an increase in the helical twisting power. The solvent effect of mcresol and trifluoroacetic acid has been discussed in terms of the intermolecular hydrogen-bond formation to the side-chain carbonyl ester groups and the disruption of aggregates ofpoly(y-benzyl L-glutamate) a-helices. KEY WORDS Poly(y-benzyl L-glutamate) I Liquid Crystal I Mixed Solvent I
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