Synthetic routes to ferroelectric liquid crystal polymers. FLC copolyacrylates

Abstract

For polymerization 11-acryloyloxy(4-(2-methylheptyloxy)-4′-biphenyl)-undecanoate monomer was synthesized by reacting acrylic acid with 11-bromo(4-(2-methylheptyloxy)-4′-biphenyl)-undecanoate under phase transfer conditions. The monomer melts at 55 °C and has no mesomorphic transition. Polymerization of this monomer at 80 °C in toluene by using AIBN as initiator did not result a polymer. Anionic copolymerization of the monomer with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate at -80 °C in toluene and in the presence of n-butyl lithium as catalyst did not result a copolymer. For polymeranalog reaction (S)-4′-(2-methyl-butyloxy-carbonyl)-phenyl-4-(11-bromounde-canoyloxy)-benzoate has been synthesized and characterized by TLC, FTIR-CNMR-spectroscopy and DSC analysis. Copolymers of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate have been synthesized via radical copolymerization. Copolymers containing less than 50 % acrylic acid proved to be suitable for phase transfer reaction with the mesogenic group. By using FLC side groups for polymeranalog reaction FLC polymers are expected.