Effect of backbone flexibility and the position of the lateral group on the mesophase stability of laterally attached, side-chain polymers

Abstract

The synthesis of chiral, nematic, laterally attached polymers from enantiotropic side-chain precursors is described. The effect of changing the point of attachment of the spacer group on the mesogenic core and the effect of the different natures of polysiloxane, polyacrylate and polymethacrylate backbones are discussed. The point of attachment of the lateral group is more significant for the monomer than for the polymer and the effects of the different polymer backbones in the side-chain systems are much reduced compared to the related polymers without side-chains.