The synthesis and mesogenic properties of side chain polymethacrylates with terminal branched groups

The synthesis is described of six polymethacrylates attached through oxytetramethylene and oxyhexamethylene spacers to an azobenzene moiety consisting of branched terminal iso-butoxy, iso-amyloxy and n-amyloxy groups. The monomers show a nematic mesophase while their polymers show an additional higher order smectic C phase. The effects of the terminal branched alkoxy group and the spacers on mesomorphic properties are discussed. The phase characteristics, thermal stabilities and molecular masses of the polymers were investigated by DSC, XRD, TGA and GPC. The polymers were also characterized by UV-vis, IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, characterization and photolysis studies on liquid crystalline poly[4-(4′-x-biphenyl)yl-4″-(m-methacryloyloxyalkyloxy) cinnamate]’s

Three series of side chain liquid crystalline polymers containing terminally substituted biphenyl cinnamoyl esters were synthesized and characterized. The para position in the cinnamoyl group was connected with polymer backbone through various even numbers of methylene spacers. The terminal electron acceptor and donor substituted biphenyl groups were linked to cinnamoyl group through ester linkages. Polarizing microscopic and DSC studies confirm the formation of thermotropic mesophase up on heating. All the polymers exhibited nematic/grainy mesophases. The TGA and DSC studies showed that the nature of the terminal substituents have significant effect on mesophase temperatures as well as in thermal stability of these liquid crystalline polymers. UV light promoted photocrosslinking studies reveal that the clear involvement on photocrosslinking efficiency, although they are linked to the olefinic bond of cinnamoyl group through their ester linkage. It is observed that electron-donating group accelerate the photocrosslinking rate, while acceptor group retard the phase of the reaction on the other hand, the unsubstituted polymers show an intermediate rate.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF NEW MESOGEN-JACKETED LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS*

Some new mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymers (MJLCP) with polymer backbones, spacers, andmesogenic units of different structures were synthesized by radical polymerization. The mesomorphic behavior of thesepolymers was examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). Theirliquid crystallinity is influenced by the variation of polymer backbone, spacer, mesogenic unit and its terminal groups. Theresults show that 1) a more flexible polymer main-chain is more favorable to the formation of a liquid crystal phase, while 2)a flexible spacer will decrease the "Jacket Effect" and the liquid crystallinity and 3) a subtle modification of the terminalgroups on the mesogenic unit may also have a significant influence on properties of the polymers.     

Synthesis and thermal behavior of side-chain liquid crystalline polymethacrylates containing tolane-based mesogenic side groups

The synthesis and characterization of nine polymethacrylates containing 4-alkoxy-4′-trifluoromethyltolane, 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. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymers with silphenylene-siloxane main chains. III. Synthesis and characterization of polymers with phenyl benzoate mesogenic groups

Side-chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) silphenylene-siloxane polymers with a phenyl benzoate mesogenic group and polymethylene spacers were prepared and characterized, and their properties were compared with those of equivalent SCLC polymers, SCLCPs, with a biphenyl mesogenic group. With identical spacers and terminal substituents, the melting temperatures of the former were much lower, but the isotropization temperatures were lowered to a lesser extent, than those of the latter, and, consequently, a more thermally stable nematic phase was obtained for the former. Both types of SCLCPs formed nematic phases, while polymethylsiloxanes with the same side-chain mesogens exhibited smectic phases with wider temperature ranges. The lower thermal stability of the mesophases in the silphenylene-siloxane SCLCPs compared to those of the SCLC polymethylsiloxanes can be attributed to both the rigidity of the backbone and the greater separation of the side-chains along the main chains of the former.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF β-DIKETONE BASED SIDE CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYSILOXANES

A new type of β-diketone based side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes (DKLCP) with different length of flexible spacers and end groups have been synthesized by hydrosilation reaction. This is liquid crystal polymers (LCP) using coordinating β-diketone ligand as mesogens. The phase behaviour of DKLCP polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy. X-ray diffraction investigations demonstrated that the polysiloxanes with sufficiently long flexible spacers were smectic liquid crystal polymers, while those with much shorter spacers were nematic ones.     

基于环糊精的高度支化聚合物*

环糊精（CD）与高度支化聚合物都存在空腔结构,若将两者结合起来可构筑出含有两种不同疏水空腔且具有特异物理化学功能的高分子体系,并有望在分子包合与识别、药物控释、基因传输等领域得到新的应用。本文根据高度支化聚合物与环糊精结合方式的不同,从以环糊精为核的高度支化聚合物、外端悬挂环糊精的高度支化聚合物、高度支化聚合物的结构单元与环糊精包合、环糊精与客体分子包合后自组装成高度支化聚合物,以及用功能化的环糊精单体合成超支化聚合物等5个方面对其研究进展进行了总结和评述,并在此基础上展望了该类聚合物的研究方向和发展趋势。     

Spacer length dependence of TGBC* and SmA phases in cholesteryl and dihydrocholesteryl-containing trimer liquid crystals

Two series of trimer liquid crystals were investigated that contain a biphenylyl central group and two cholesteryl or dihydrocholesteryl terminal mesogenic groups. Only compounds with even spacers were investigated. The dihydrocholesteryl-containing trimers show a triply intercalated smectic A (SmA) phase when the spacer lengths are greater than 8, whereas the cholesteryl-containing trimers exhibit this triply intercalated SmA phase when the spacer lengths are more than 6. With shorter spacers, a twist grain boundary C* (TGBC*) phase was found. This is revealed by the formation of a typical dotted square grid pattern upon cooling from the chiral nematic (N*) phase in the planar texture. The dots are spaced by a distance of about 1.5-1.8 µm. Upon cooling from the N* phase in the focal conic texture a striped pattern is observed with the same spacing. X-ray diffraction revealed a repeat distance for the TGBC* phase that corresponds with a monolayer ordering. The results show that the weaker interaction between the dihydrocholesteryl groups compared with cholesteryl groups or longer spacers destabilize the monolayer TGBC* phase.     

Effect of terminal aryl rings of liquid crystal trimers on liquid crystalline properties

Liquid crystalline properties of five series of biphenyl derivatives connected with p-nitrophenyl, phenyl, 2-naphthyl, 9-phenathryl and bromo as the terminal groups via flexible spacers were studied. All the compounds exhibited nematic phase. The nematic–isotropic or isotropic–nematic transition properties resulted in an odd–even effect as the length of the spacers was varied, in which the even members exhibited higher values, for the compounds with p-nitrophenyl, phenyl, 2-naphthyl and 9-phenanthryl groups, while the transitional properties of the compounds substituted with bromo atom as the terminal group instead of the aryl groups did not show such odd–even effect. These results suggest that the aryl rings, such as p-nitrophenyl, phenyl, 2-naphthyl and 9-phenanthryl groups, play a role of mesogen while the terminal bromo atom does not. The effect of the terminal aryl rings on the liquid crystalline properties will be reported.     

Properties of dendronized acrylic polymers: Effect of composition and structure of peripheral groups

Two series of new acrylic polymers carrying L-aspartic acid-based dendrons in side chains with terminal hexyloxycarbonyl groups that are both directly and indirectly, via a rigid spacer, attached to polymer chains have been synthesized by the free-radical polymerization of monomers. The polymerization ability of the monomers has been studied. The properties of new polymers are compared with the properties of polymer analogs containing terminal methoxycarbonyl groups of dendrons. Upon incorporation of the rigid spacer, the shielding of reactive centers decreases and the polymerizability of the monomers increases. The replacement of terminal methyl groups in dendrons with hexyl groups in spacer-free polymers leads to a reduction in the degree of polymerization, while in the case of polymers containing spacers, high-molecular-mass products arise. This phenomenon is facilitated by the amphiphilic nature of the polymers and the additional enhancement in the rigidity of chains. A polymer carrying a third-generation dendron has been synthesized only for the latter series.     

Liquid crystal polymers—VI.: Synthesis and properties of main chain thermotropic polyesters with disiloxane spacers

New thermotropic, liquid crystalline polymers were synthesized, and their thermal properties and the characteristics of their mesophases were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, by use of a hot stage on a polarizing microscope, and by small-angle light scattering. The polymers had an aromatic ester triad mesogenic group and a flexible siloxane spacer in the main chain. Equimolar copolymers containing both siloxane and decamethylene spacers were also prepared and characterized. All the polymers formed nematic phases, and the thermodynamic characteristics of their nematic-to-isotropic phase transitions could be explained on the basis of their structural features.     

Thermotropic liquid crystal polyesters derived from 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid and oxyalkylene spacers

Several polyesters derived from bibenzoic acid and oxyalkylene glycols have been prepared and the ability of formation of mesophases was studied. The phase behaviour was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and real-time variable-temperature small-angle X-ray diffraction. A common feature of all the studied polyesters, with ether groups in the spacer, is the inhibited ability for developing three-dimensional structures, in contrast to the polymers with all-methylene spacers. Moreover, the latter polymers show a monotropic mesophase behaviour but the former exhibit an enantiotropic transformation. Smectic structures of different types have been detected: The polyester derived from 3,3'-oxybis(1-propanol) produces a smectic S_A structure, while the polyester from triethylene glycol leads to a smectic S_C mesophase. The influence of the spacers on the dynamic mechanical relaxations of these polybibenzoates has been studied and discussed.     

刚柔相嵌液晶高分子的赝二级相变温度

讨论了刚柔相嵌液晶高分子的向列相一各向同性相转变与其分子结构的关系．给出了该一级相变的赝二级相变温度Ｔ＊与这类液晶高分子的液晶基元和间隔基的长度、柔顺性（相关长度）以及它们之间的相互作用的关系的解析表示式．分析了液晶基元与间隔基连接处的表观弯曲（接口效应）对Ｔ＊的影响．文中的结论与实验相符．     

刚柔相嵌液晶高分子的赝二级相变温度

讨论了刚柔相嵌液晶高分子的向列相－各向同性相转变与其分子结构的关系，给出了该一级相变的赝二级相变温度Ｔ与这类液晶高分子的液晶基元和间隔基的长度，柔顺性（相关长度）以及它们之间的相互作用的关系的解析表示式，分析了液晶基元与间隔基连接处的表观弯曲（接口效应）对Ｔ的影响，文中的结论与实验相符。     

Relaxation of a semiflexible grafted polymer

The relaxation of single grafted semiflexible chains freely rotating around the grafting point is investigated by means of two dimensional computer simulations and scaling arguments. Both free chains and chains surrounded by topological obstacles are considered. We compute the autocorrelation of the end-to-end vector for the whole chain and for terminal sections of various lengths. Our results are relevant for the relaxation of star polymers with stiff arms or branched semiflexible polymers moving in an array of obstacles.     

On the liquid-crystalline properties of methacrylic polymers containing 4′-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)azobenzene mesogens

In this article, we report on the synthesis and thermotropic behaviour of methacrylic polymers containing 4′-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)azobenzene mesogens attached to the backbone through n-alkyloxy spacers of 6 or 10 methylene groups. Polymerisations were carried out via free radicals using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. Chemical structures of polymers and their precursors were characterised by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that azopolymers are thermally stable up to temperatures around 300°C. The thermotropic liquid-crystalline (LC) behaviour was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicate that all synthesised mesogens, monomers and polymers developed two or more orthogonal LC phases in wide temperature ranges. Mesogens and monomers developed nematic and smectic phases, whereas polymers exhibited only smectic phase. In polymers, the arrangement of mesogens depends on the relative length of the spacer and the terminal flexible chain; two distinct structural models were proposed based on chemical interactions and steric constrains. The trans–cis photoisomerisation of monomers and polymers in solution was also studied. High cis-isomer contents (>80%) were reached in relative short irradiation times despite the steric constrains imposed by the polymer backbone.     

Theory of main chain nematic polymers with spacers of varying degree of flexibility

Main chain liquid crystal polymers are modelled as either worms or jointed rods. In reality they are composed of mesogenic units (rods) linked by spacers with varying degrees of flexibility. We present a molecular model to describe non-homogeneous nematic polymers. The model takes account of molecular parameters, such as the lengths of the mesogenic group and the spacer units, and the interactions between them. The spacers are found to have an order differing from the mesogenic units. If the spacer is not very long and thus in effect is inflexible, one end of the spacer can retain to some extent the orientation of the other end, allowing orientational correlation between spacers mediated by the intermediate mesogenic unit. This is important in giving the chain a global rod-like behaviour as the nematic field becomes strong or the temperature low. The nematic order of the two components (mesogens and spacers), the nematic-isotropic transition as well as the latent entropy are examined. Furthermore, the anisotropic conformations of the polymers are investigated, which show either rod-like or random walk behaviour. Comparison of our results with experiment is found to be satisfactory.     

Preparation of thermo- and redox-responsive branched polymers composed of three-armed oligo(ethylene glycol)

We herein report the preparation of thermo- and redox-responsive branched polymers by the condensation reaction of three-armed oligo(ethylene glycol) (trisOEG) and cystamine (CA). The prepared branched polymers exhibited a soluble–insoluble transition at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and formed coacervate droplets through a liquid–liquid phase separation process. We then demonstrated control of the LCSTs of the branched polymers by varying the feed ratio of CA and the surrounding salt concentration close to body temperature. In addition, the trisOEG-cys _x polymer formed coacervate droplets above the LCST, in which hydrophobic molecules were condensed. The redox response of the branched polymers was also investigated. Interestingly, the branched polymers degraded to low-molecular-weight materials (i.e., trisOEG) in the presence of dithiothereitol as a reducing agent through cleavage of the disulfide bond of CA. This facile preparation of branched polymers is expected to be valuable in the context of functional biomedical materials and modifiers for materials surfaces, such as the bases for drug delivery carriers and separation materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2623–2629     

Laterally linked mesogens in main chain polymers

The syntheses of liquid-crystalline main chain polyesters with laterally linked mesogens are presented. The terminal groups of the mesogens and the spacers fixation of mesogens, the polyesters with 1,4-di(p-alkoxybenzoyloxy)benzenes 1,4-di(p-alkoxybenzolyloxy)benzenes, 2,5-di(p-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidines or a 4,4'-bis(p-ethoxyphenylazo)biphenyl derivative. Despite the unusual bilateral fixation of mesogens, the polyesters with 1,4-di(p-alkoxybenzoyloxy)benzenes show mainly monotropic phases which were found to be nematic in investigations with the polarizing microscope, in DSC measurements, temperature-dependent measurements of the Kerr constant and X-ray diffraction experiments. The monotropic nematic character remains when varying the terminal groups of the mesogen as well as the length of the n-alkanedioic acid spacer. However, when the spacer is branched, crystallization can be disturbed effectively and a stable nematic phase can be obtained. All of the polyesters with only 2,5-di(p-alkoxyphenyl)-pyrimidines as mesogens are amorphous. The reason probably lies in the unsymmetric 4,6-substitution of the pyrimidine ring. In contrast to this, oligomers with a 4,4'-bis(p-ethoxyphenylazo)biphenyl derivative show broad, predominantly enantiotropic nematic phases with relatively high clearing temperatures. With the knowledge gained about relations between structure and properties, especially of polyesters with 1,4-(p-alkoxybenzoyloxy)benzenes as mesogens, polyesters with this mesogenic group but with various architectures have been compared. Speculations about possible arrangements of the structural elements have been included to explain the phase behaviour of the polyesters with laterally fixed mesogens.     

基于原子转移自由基聚合技术的偶氮苯星形液晶聚合物的合成与表征

利用原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)技术合成了含不同端基取代基的偶氮苯三臂星形侧链液晶聚合物. 均苯三酚与2-溴异丁酰溴通过酯化反应制备三官能团引发剂, 引发偶氮苯单体6-[4-(4-甲氧基苯基偶氮)酚氧基]己基甲基丙烯酸酯(MMAzo)或6-[4-(4-乙氧基苯基偶氮)酚氧基]己基甲基丙烯酸酯(EMAzo)的ATRP反应. 利用核磁共振氢谱(¹H NMR)、凝胶色谱(GPC)、差示扫描量热法(DSC)和偏光显微镜(POM)等手段对星形聚合物进行表征. 星形聚合物的液晶性与相应均聚物相似, 但偶氮苯端基取代基的不同导致星形聚合物的液晶性差别显著. 在紫外/可见光照射下星形聚合物呈现明显的异构化转变.