| Abstract: | A series of liquid crystal α-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-ω-(4-nitroazobenzene-4′-oxy)alkanes (Cn-diol) with different alkyl chain length has been synthesized. All Cn-diols exhibit a smectic phase that has been identified by means of polarizing microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These compounds are suitable monomers for the synthesis of side-chain liquid crystalline polyurethanes and polyesters. They were polymerized with hexamethylene diisocyanate to corresponding SCLC polyurethanes in which the spacer length was varied from 2 to 12 methylene units. Polyurethanes (CnP) with spacer lengths n ≥ 4 exhibited liquid crystalline behavior. Fourier transform infrared temperature studies of the CnP were done focusing on H-bonds between the N? H and C?O groups of the urethane backbone. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2871–2888, 1997 |
