Liquid crystallinity by poly(acrylate)s and poly(methacrylate)s with stilbene units

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of poly(acrylate)s and poly(methacrylate)s containing 4′‐substituted stilbene‐4‐carboxylic acid side groups attached by flexible spacers containing two, six, or eleven methylene groups are described. Most of the poly(methacrylate)s have nematic phases. In contrast, none of the poly(acrylate)s exhibit liquid crystalline behaviour.

Side-Chain Liquid-Crystalline Polymers from the Alternating Copolymerization of Maleic Anhydride and 1-Olefins Carrying Biphenyl Mesogens

“…Transition temperatures decrease if the terminal alkyl group increases from six to nine carbon atoms. A similar trend has been observed before for other LCPs with rigid backbones such as poly-(styrene)s 38 and poly(methacrylate)s. 39 In these cases, the backbone restricts the mobility of the mesogens to some extent by preventing them to orient in an appropriate fashion. Long terminal alkyl groups have a plasticizing effect by loosening the mesogen packing.…”