Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers. I. Cholesterol‐containing polymers and copolymers

Abstract

An approach to the creation of thermotropic cholesterol‐containing liquid crystalline polymers by the chemical binding of cholesterol molecules with side chains of comblike polymers is presented. This type of structure permits a decrease in the steric hindrances provided by the backbone chains for the purpose of realizing the liquid crystalline state. A number of new cholesteric esters of poly(N‐methacryloyl‐ω‐aminocarbonic acid)s (PChMAA‐n) with different side‐chain lengths (n = 2–11) as well as a series of copolymers of ChMA‐n with n‐alkylacrylates and n‐alkylmethacrylates have been synthesized. The experimental evidence of liquid crystalline structure formation in these polymers in glass, viscoelastic, and fluid states is discussed. Molecular and supermolecular structures of cholesterol‐containing comblike polymers have been studied and the model of macromolecular packing in the liquid crystalline state is proposed. It is shown that the existence of a layered order of side methylene groups together with ordering of cholesterol groups is necessary to the production of the liquid crystalline state in these polymers.

Molecular dynamics of solid polymers as revealed by deuteron NMR

“…figure 21, combining properties of polymers with those of thermotropic liquid crystals. A considerable variety of such side chain systems can be prepared, following the model of decoupling the molecular motions of the mesogenic groups and the main chain by inserting a flexible spacer [80,81]. Nematic, smectic, and even cholesteric systems have been obtained [82,83].…”

Comparison of the Molecular Dynamics of a Liquid Crystalline Side Group Polymer Revealed from Temperature Modulated DSC and Dielectric Experiments in the Glass Transition Region

“…[1,2] For instance these materials can be used as materials for optical data storage, holographic applications and electro-optical devices but also applications in chromatography or membrane separation are known. [3] So the investigation of the structure property relationships of these materials is quite important for both their applications and from the point of basic research because these materials combine anisotropic with polymeric properties.…”

pH-responsive flocculation and dispersion behavior of Janus particles in water

“…Sodium 6-acrylamidohexanoate (AaH) 24 and 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate 25 were synthesized, as reported previously. 2,2¢-Azobis(isobutyronitrile) (498%, AIBN) from Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Osaka, Japan) was recrystallized from methanol.…”