SYNTHESIS AND POLYMERIZATION OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE DONOR-ACCEPTOR MONOMERS

The synthesis and polymerization of the following liquid crystalline m onomers (containing both a vinyl ether group (electron donor) and a ma leimide group (electron acceptor) within the same molecule) are descri bed: 4-[(4-maleimidobenzoyl)oxy]phenyl 4-[[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]oxy]benzo ate (1), 4-[[11-[(4-maleimidobenzoyl)oxy]undecyl]oxy]phenyl 4-[[4-(vin yloxy)butyl]oxy]benzoate (2), and 4-[[6-[(4-maleimidobenzoyl)oxy]hexyl ]oxy]phenyl 4-[[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]oxy]benzoate (3). In the absence of photoinitiators, direct photolysis of a mixture of monomers 2 and 3, o riented in the nematic phase, led to initiation of polymerization and the formation of an ordered nematic LC polymer network. The use of a n onliquid crystalline model substance, [[[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]oxy]carbony l]phenyl]maleimide (4), showed that irradiation with a high-power micr owave lamp, without the presence of photoinitiators, resulted in fast and efficient polymerization.