New polymers with mesogens in the side chain and kinked aromatic structures in the main chain from the polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s and di(ester)s

Nine polymers with kinked aromatic structures in the main chain and biphenylene‐type mesogenic groups in the side chain were synthesized by the polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s and thio‐ and O‐esters. Tetrabutylphosphonium chloride and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride effectively catalyzed the polymerization. The thermal behavior of the polymers was measured by DSC and polarizing optical microscopy. The effect of annealing time on the degree of crystallization was investigated by DSC analysis. Polymers containing 100% of the kinked aromatic groups and 1,3‐propylene glycol in the main chain were amorphous. However, when half of the main‐chain aromatic moieties were composed of kinked groups and the other half of the aromatics were linear rodlike groups, the polymers were crystalline. The incorporation of kinked groups into the main chain of side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polymers suppressed the formation of liquid crystallinity. The polymer with mesogenic aromatic structures in both the main chain and the side chain was capable of forming a liquid‐crystalline phase. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 988–998, 2000     

Liquid crystalline side chain polymer with a poly (Geraniol-co-MMA) backbone and phenylbenzoate mesogenic group: synthesis and characterization

A new side chain liquid crystalline polymers have been synthesized and characterized in which [geraniol-co-MMA] polymer are used as a backbone linked via polymethylene spacer to phenyl benzoate mesogenic group. The polymer exhibits enantiotropic liquid crystallinity with nematic phase and does not exhibit side chain crystallization .A clear difference between the nature of the mesophase is evidenced between [Geraniol-co-MMA] main chain and methacrylate polymers .The LC polymer exhibit glass transition at 40 °C. In a comparative analysis, we discuss the relevance of polymer backbone in the synthesis of side chain liquid crystalline polymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline copolymethacrylates,copolyacrylates, and copolysiloxanes containing 4-methoxy-4′-hydroxy-α-methylstilbene and 4-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-α-methylstilbene constitutional isomers as side-groups

The synthesis of methacrylates and acrylates containing 4-methoxy-4′-hydroxy-α-methylstilbene and 4-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-α-methylstilbene constitutional isomers attached to the polymerizable group through flexible spacers containing 11, 8, 6, 3, and respectively 2 methylenic units is described. The radical copolymerization of a 1/2 or 2/1 mole ratio of the two constitutional isomeric monomers led to thermotropic side-chain liquid crystalline polymers in all cases. The synthesis of copolysiloxanes based on the same constitutional isomeric mesogens as side groups, and flexible spacers containing 11, 8, 6, 5, and respectively 3 methylenic units is also described. All polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarization microscopy. The polymers containing 11 methylenic units in the spacer exhibit S_c mesomorphism, while the other polymers are nematic. Copolymethacrylates do not undergo side-chain crystallization. Only the copolyacrylate containing 11 methylenic units in the spacer exhibits side-chain crystallization. All the copolysiloxanes display side-chain crystallization. The number of melting transitions seen for these polymers decreases with increasing spacer length. Copolysiloxanes containing dissimilar spacer length were also prepared. Only the copolymer synthesized with highly dissimilar spacer lengths, i.e., containing 3 and 11 methylenic units, does not undergo side-chain crystallization. These results have demonstrated that while the type of mesophase is dictated only by the spacer length, the degree of decoupling of the motion of the side-groups from the motion of the main chain is strongly dependent on the nature of the polymer backbone. For the same mesogenic unit and spacer length, the thermal stability of the mesophase is also dictated by the nature of the polymer backbone. The use of constitutional isomers of mesogenic units as side groups in liquid crystalline polymers provides at least qualitative information on the degree of decoupling of the side groups from the polymer main chain.     

A series of azo-type side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane–palladium complexes

A series of azo-type side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes (AZLCPs) were synthesized, starting from organic polysiloxane and azo-type mesogenic compounds having an end allyl group. The AZLCPs were further used to coordinate with palladium dichloride and potassium chloride, by which a series of palladium complexes of AZLCPs (Pd–AZLCPs) were prepared. The mesogenic properties of all of the liquid crystalline polymers were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry, polarized microscope and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. It was found that all of the polymer ligands and their palladium complexes showed thermotropic liquid crystallinity and that the incorporation of the palladium ions gave positive effects to the mesogenic properties of their polymer ligand counterpart. Compared with the corresponding AZLCPs, the Pd–AZLCPs have higher isotropization temperatures and a broader mesophase temperature range. The mesogenic properties of the liquid crystalline polymer ligands and their palladium complexes were also varied gradually by changing the length of the alkoxy groups on the side chain. The polymers that have a color emissive group and a highly flexible polysiloxane main chain may potentially be used as nonlinear optical materials.     

STUDY ON LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS WITH TWO-DIMENSIONAL MESOGENIC UNITS

A series of liquid crystalline polymers with two-dimensional mesogenic units were synthesized by solution polycondensation at low temperature. All the polymers were liquid crystalline. The melting temperature T_m (except that with substituent of methoxy) and the clearing temperature T_i of the polymers change regularly with varying of the length of the alkyl substituent groups.     

刚性链侧链型液晶高分子（甲壳型液晶高分子）研究进展

普通的侧链型液晶高分子属柔性链高分子,而“甲壳型液晶高分子”虽从化学结构着属于侧链型液晶高分子,其性质却和典型的眩链型液晶高分子相似,具有很大的分子链刚性。本文介绍了“甲型液晶高分子”这一科学概念及其研究进展,并对尚待解决的问题进行了探讨。     

Relationship between structure and conformation in liquid crystalline polymers

Our studies on the nematic phase of different kinds of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers tend to focus on the following question: what about the anisotropy of the backbone conformation in the orientational medium imposed by its mesogenic groups ? By means of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) different features are qualitatively and quantitatively discussed. In the case of liquid crystal side chain polymers, the chain anisotropy is essentially driven by thermodynamical, structural and chemical considerations. In addition, in the case of liquid crystal main chain polymers, hairpin defects are observed for sufficiently long polymers.     

Synthesis and properties of two new series of isomeric liquid crystalline polyesters with conjugated double bonds

Two homologous series of flexible main chain liquid crystalline polyesters with isomeric mesogenic groups containing conjugated double bonds, were synthesized and studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. One series (S1) has the p-phenylene-diacryloyloxydibenzoyl moiety as a mesogenic unit. The other (S2) has the terephtaloyl dioxydicinnamoyl moiety as a mesogenic unit. The reactivity of the conjugated double bonds of the p-phenylenediacryloxy unit, at the temperature of mesophase formation, impedes the stability of liquid crystalline mesophases of polymers of series (S1). Two low molecular weight analogues of polymers were also prepared and their properties compared with those of polymers of similar structure. The two model compounds form stable smectic mesophases over a wide range of temperatures, which shows the high mesomorphogenic ability of both mesogenic units.     

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SHISH-KEBAB TYPE LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLY（p-PHENYLENEVINYLENE）

Novel shish-kebab type liquid crystalline poly（p-phenylenevinylene） derivatives were synthesized by Stille coupling reaction from 2,5-bis[（4-n-alkoxyl）benzoyloxy]1,4-dibromobenzene （monomer l） and 1,2-bis（tributylstannyl） ethylene （monomer 2）. The polymers with alkoxy groups are soluble in common organic solvents and exhibit blue fluorescence. Both the cast film and the annealed film have large red-shifts in fluorescence spectra and show yellow fluorescence. The polymers with CN and NO2 groups show poor solubility and green fluorescence. All the polymers possess liquid crystalline smectic phases. The melting point （Tm） of the polymers decreases when the length of the alkoxy tails of the mesogenic units increases. The polymers are easily aligned under a magnetic field of 10 Tesla. It is found that the conjugated backbone and LC side chain are aligned perpendicular and parallel to the magnetic field, respectively. The polymers show optical dichroism in fluorescence spectra, suggesting that they are available for advance materials with linear optical polarization.     

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymers with silphenylene-siloxane main chains. II. Preparation and characterization of polymers containing biphenyl mesogens

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymers with poly(silphenylene-siloxane) backbones and 4,4′-biphenyl-containing pendant mesogenic groups have been prepared and characterized. Polymers with spacers having only three methylene groups were not liquid crystalline, LC, but those with spacers having eight methylene groups or more and a long terminal substituent were LC as indicated by an isotropization peak on the shoulder of the melting peak in the DSC thermogram and the appearance of a Schlieren texture on examination by polarized light microscopy. However, the LC behavior could not be confirmed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, WAXD, because the crystalline pattern apparently remained up to the isotropization temperature, presumably because the melting transition and isotropization are too close. In contrast, polymethylsiloxanes with the same mesogenic side-chains revealed the presence of well-defined smectic phases by WAXD as well as by polarized light microscopy.     

The synthesis of mesogenic polymers provoked by molecular mobility. polysiloxanarylenes

An approach to the synthesis of potentially thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers based on parallel investigation of their molecular mobility was realized. The initial idea was provoked by the observation that there exists some correspondence of molecular mobility data and the ability of a polymer to form a liquid crystalline phase. Previously this phenomenon was demonstrated on the example of a series of thermotropic main chain polymers with flexible dimethylsiloxane spacers of variable length. The relation between the structure of the main chain and local molecular mobility of different fragments was investigated in a series of regular polysiloxane-silarylenes containing rigid aromatic sequences. Molecular mobility was studied by dielectric spectroscopy in solution and in solid state. The structure of the main chain has been changed by variation of the repeated fragments' length, substituents and joint groups. The data of molecular mobility and their conformity with the chain structure were used for directed synthetic search of desired mesogenic polymers.     

STUDY OF CHIRAL SIDE CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS

Five kinds of side chain liquid crystalline polymers with a chiral component in the pendant group were synthesized and characterized by GPC, polarizing microscopy, DSC, X-ray diffraction ano Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the polymers is affected by the length of flexible spacer, which links the mesogenic side chain to the polymer backbone and mesogenic moiety. The characteristic of smectic phase is observed for all the polymers.     

Effect of a lateral substituent on the mesomorphic properties of ferroelectric side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes

The synthesis of side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing oligooxyethylene spacers and ( S )-2-methylbutyl 4-\[(4-oxybiphenyl-4-yl)carbonyloxy]-3-fluorobenzoate mesogenic side groups is presented. Differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements reveal liquid crystalline properties for all synthesized monomers and polymers. All three precursor olefinic monomers reveal cholesteric and smectic A phases. The olefinic monomer which contains two oligooxyethylene units in the spacer is the only one which reveals a twist grain boundary A phase and a blue phase, besides the cholesteric and smectic A phases. All three polysiloxanes present enantiotropic smectic A and chiral smectic C phases. The mesomorphic behaviours of the monomers and polymers are compared with those of the corresponding monomers and polymers without the lateral fluoro substituent. The results seem to demonstrate that incorporating a lateral fluoro substituent in the mesogenic cores of the monomers affects not only the mesophase thermal stability, but also the nature of the mesophases formed. However, incorporating a lateral fluoro substituent in the mesogenic cores of the polymers affects only the thermal stability of the mesophases formed. The lateral fluoro substituent has a more profound effect on the mesomorphic behaviour for the monomers than that for the polymers.     

刚性链侧链型液晶高分子合成与研究

以自由基聚合方法，合成了一系列含有３个苯环通过酯键相联的液晶性单体及其聚合物，这类刚性液晶基元不通过柔性间隔基而直接竖挂在聚丙烯酸酯大分子主链上，具有很高的Ｔｇ·ＤＳＣ及偏光显微镜结果表明，所有的单体和聚合物均为向列型热致性液晶。     

Main chain thermotropic polyesters having flexible spacers—influence of ester group linking order between mesogenic unit and flexible spacer

Two series of main chain thermotropic polyesters having a decamethylene spacer were prepared and their thermal transitions and liquid crystalline properties were studied. The linking sequence of the ester bond between the mesogenic unit and spacer, i.e., versus with M and S being mesogenic unit and spacer, respectively, was found to influence profoundly the nature of the mesophase formed by the polymers. The former favors the formation of a smectic phase, while the latter favors the formation of a nematic phase. The structure of the central dicarboxylic acid moiety of the triester mesogenic units also was found to influence greatly the polymer's ability to form mesophases.     

Liquid crystalline conjugated polymers and their applications in organic electronics

This article describes the syntheses and electro‐optical applications of liquid crystalline (LC) conjugated polymers, for example, poly(p‐phenylenevinylene), polyfluorene, polythiophene, and other conjugated polymers. The polymerization involves several mechanisms: the Gilch route, Heck coupling, or Knoevenagel condensation for poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)s, the Suzuki‐ or Yamamoto‐coupling reaction for polyfluorenes, and miscellaneous coupling reactions for other conjugated polymers. These LC conjugated polymers are classified into two types: conjugated main chain polymers with long alkyl side chains, namely main‐chain type LC polymers, and conjugated polymers grafting with mesogenic side groups, namely side‐chain type LC conjugated polymers. In general, the former shows higher transition temperature and only nematic phase; the latter possesses lower transition temperature and more mesophases, for example, smectic and nematic phases, depending on the structure of mesogenic side chains. The fully conjugated main chain promises them as good candidates for polarized electroluminescent or field‐effect devices. The polarized emission can be obtained by surface rubbing or thermal annealing in liquid crystalline phase, with maximum dichroic ratio more than 20. In addition, conjugated oligomers with LC properties are also included and discussed in this article. Several oligo‐fluorene derivatives show outstanding polarized emission properties and potential use in LCD backlight application. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2713–2733, 2009     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYAMIDES

A series of novel mesogenic polyamides containing a flexible pendent side group wassynthesized by solution condensation polymerization. The new monomers, diacids and di-amines containing flexible elements of diferent lengths, were also synthesized and character-ized by ~1HNMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The polymers were character-ized by viscosity measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffiactionand polarizing optical microscopy These studies revealed that polyamides containingflexible elements of a sufficient length exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline(LC) pro-perties. The melting temperatures of this series of polymers were particularly sensitive tothe length of the flexible segment on the main chain and that of the flexible pendent esterside chain. Lyotropic LC behaviours were also observed in solution.     

Synthesis and characterization of side‐chain liquid‐crystalline poly(ethyleneimine)s with cyanobiphenyl groups

A series of polyethyleneimine‐based side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polymers substituted with different ratios of cyanobiphenyl as pendent mesogenic groups has been synthesized in which the spacer length varies between two and six methylene units. The structures of the synthesized polymers are confirmed by infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The thermal properties of these polymers have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The results indicate that the thermal behaviour of the polymers is strongly dependent on the degree of substitution. Polymers containing more than 69% of mesogenic groups exhibit nematic‐type thermotropic liquid‐crystalline behaviour with schlieren textures. Below this limit, the polymers are amorphous. Polymers with a higher degree of substitution present the crystalline states. The phase transition temperatures increase and the mesomorphic temperature ranges widen with increasing degree of substitution. The clearing temperatures decrease as the spacer length increases. An odd–even effect in the clearing temperatures is observed and the odd members display the higher values.     

Liquid-crystalline polyesters based on branched propylene spacers

A new promising concept of spacer modification in main chain liquid crystalline polymers is the use of branched alkylene spacers. In this article we give as a first example the polyesters of p, p′-terphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid as mesogenic unit and disubstituted propylene spacers. The steric restrictions of the spacers lower the melting points compared with the polyesters with linear spacer but they do not flexibilize the main chains as linear alkylspacers do. This leads to a residual stability range of the liquid crystalline state in the homologues of polyesters with disubstituted spacer. The melting and clearing points are lowered to the same extent. Because of the solubility of the higher homologues in common solvents it is possible for the first time to determine molecular masses of this polymer class based on p, p′-terphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid and aliphatic diols more exactly. X-ray scattering indicates that long side chains are arranged parallel to the main chain and have no longer influence on transition temperatures and intermolecular distances. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

一类新的刚性链侧链型液晶高分子的合成

以自由基聚合方法，合成了一系列含有三个苯环通过酯键相联的液晶性单体及其聚合物．在这类新的液晶高分子中，刚性液晶基元不通过柔性间隔基而直接竖挂在聚甲基丙烯酸酯大分子主链上．这些高分子有很高的玻璃化转变温度，表明其分子链刚性较大，因而代表了一类新的刚性链侧链型液晶高分子．它们的液晶行为用ＤＳＣ、偏光显微镜和Ｘ－光衍射进行了表征．发现所有单体和聚合物均为向列型热致性液晶．