Deuterium NMR analysis of main-chain polymer liquid crystals

Summary Deuterium NMR measurements have been performed for main-chain polymer liquid crystals having structures such as {Ø-OC(O)-Ø-O(CD₂)_nO-Ø-C(O)O-Ø-O(CH₂)_nO}_x with n = 9, 10. D-NMR spectra obtained in the nematic mesophase are compared with those previously reported for the dimer liquid crystals of the type NC---O(CD₂)_nO---CN with n = 9, 10, Although resolutions are relatively poor in the polymer spectrum, the general profiles of the spectra were found to be similar to those of the corresponding dimer. The results of the RIS analysis suggest that the spatial configurations of the spacer are nearly identical between the dimer and polymer. It has been concluded that the observed enhancement in the quadru-polar splittings should arise largely from a higher orientational ordering of the molecular axis in the polymeric system.