Synthesis of UV‐curable liquid crystalline diacrylates for the application of polarized electroluminescence

Two series of UV‐curable rod‐like diacrylates containing bis‐tolane (M1–M5) and bis‐stilbene (M6–M10) mesogens were synthesized. All of the diacrylates were prepared through convergent syntheses involving palladium‐catalysed coupling reactions. The thermal transitions and mesomorphic properties of the diacrylates were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. All the bis‐tolane‐based monomers reveal nematic phases, except M5 which shows no mesomorphic behaviour. For the bis‐stilbene based monomers, most show no mesomorphic behavior and only M7 and M9 exhibit a SmA phase.