SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS

The synthesis and some properties of organometallic homo- and copolyme rs carrying diethynylated pi-complexes are discussed. As monomers the diethynylated derivatives of cymantrene and adienyl(1,3-bistrimethylsi lylcyclobutadiene)cobalt were utilized. Novel thermotropic nematic and lyotropic smectic liquid crystalline polymers were synthesized as cop olymers of 1 and 2,5-dihexyl-1,4-diiodobenzene or 3-hexyl-2,5-diiodoth iophene in a Cassar-Heck-Hagihara coupling reaction. The liquid crysta lline behavior was secured by polarizing microscopy and powder X-ray d iffractometry.