LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE COMB-SHAPED OLIGOACRYL ATES AND OLIGOMETHACRYLATESWITH 4-CYANOAZOBENZENE MESOGENIC GROUPS

Two homologous series of acrylic and methacrylic monomers with 4-cyano azobenzene mesogenic groups were synthesized. Members of each series c ontained a different number of carbon atoms (from two to eleven) in th e aliphatic chain of the spacers between the mesogenic groups. LC olig omers with the degree of polymerization ranging from 10 to 100 were pr epared from these monomers by radical polymerization. Properties of th e LC phases of the oligomers were investigated, and regularities that control the formation of mesophases as the length of spacer is varied were studied for chemically different main chains. A model that descri bes the arrangement of the macromolecules of acrylic and methacrylic o ligomers in the LC phase was suggested.