MOLECULAR ZIP-FASTENERS

Swallow-tailed mesogens of liquid crystalline side group polysiloxanes show a very strong tendency to form an antiparallel order in the shor t range and to connect in this way different oligomer strands - like a molecular zip-fastener. To check the strength of such a molecular coo peration swallow-tailed side groups of oligomers were exchanged stepwi se by laterally aryl substituted mesogenes. The gradual destruction of the zip-like gearing caused by this variation can be observed by diel ectric measurements. Comparing investigations show that the tendency t o form antiparallel package is greater for the oligomers under discuss ion than in mixtures of the corresponding monomers.