SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYESTERS DERIVED FROM DIETHYLMALONATEAND OR 1,3-PROPANEDIOL/

A series of azo monomers for polycondensation have been synthesized an d characterized. These monomers, which contain electron-donor or accep tor substituents, have been condensed with aliphatic monomers to obtai n two different series of aliphatic main-chain polyesters with pendant mesogenic groups. The polymers display nematic or smectic phases depe nding on the structural modifications of pendant mesogenic groups and the length of the flexible main-chain. In addition to these series, tw o polyesters with a high concentration of side pro-mesogenic groups ha ve been synthesized. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.