Synthesis and characterization of a new discotic columnar side-chain liquid crystalline polymer deuterated for NMR analysis

As part of our attempt to prepare molecular spinning machine, we synthesized a new discotic liquid crystalline polymethacrylate based on the taper-shaped monoester of triethylene glycol with 3,4,5-tris(p-dodecyloxylbenzyloxy-m-methoxybenzyloxy)benzoic acid. The polymethacrylate was deuterated in the benzoic ring for subsequent solid-echo ²H NMR spectroscopy. The m-methoxy group was proposed to prevent the rotation of the benzene ring, thereby inducing the cooperative rotational motion of the polymer.