Polymeric Mesoions:  Novel Synthetic Methods, Photochemistry, and Characterization in the Solid State by Dielectric and Waveguide-Mode Spectroscopy

Abstract

Photosensitive mesoionic polymers in which the polymerizable methacrylic group is attached to the malonic acid component of the mesoionic function were prepared and characterized. Dielectric measurements were performed, and the results were compared to those of liquid-crystalline mesoionic copolymers. The influence on the dielectric properties upon irradiation with UV light, which causes the photoconversion of the mesoionic groups to bis(β-lactame) structures, was determined. The glass-transition temperatures determined by dielectric spectroscopy were compared to those obtained by DSC. It could be observed by waveguide-mode spectroscopy that irradiating the mesoionic methacrylates results in remarkable effects on the film thickness and refractive index of spin-coated polymer films.