Synthesis and characterization of optically active liquid crystalline polyacrylates containing mesogenic phenylbenzoate groups

A series of novel side chain liquid crystalline polyacrylates with pendant chiral groups were synthesized. It was found that monomers with electron releasing -OC₄H₉ terminal groups seem beneficial for the formation of liquid crystalline phases. Copolymerization of the monomers was carried out and the physical properties of the copolymers were investigated. All synthesized polymers revealed liquid crystalline phases and appeared highly thermally stable with decomposition temperatures (T_d) at 10% weight loss greater than 384 °C and about 50% weight loss occurred beyond 442 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. Two miscible chiral compounds were also synthesized and used as chiral dopants to induce cholesteric liquid crystalline phases of polymers. Liquid crystalline phases of the polymers were investigated using DSC and XRD, and confirmed with POM technique. The optical properties of the induced cholesteric liquid crystalline polymers were investigated using UV-vis spectrometer. The appearance and the color variation of the polymer films before and after UV irradiation were also investigated. Typical helical morphology of the cholesteric liquid crystalline film was analyzed by SEM technique.