COMB-BRANCH CHIRAL LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS .4. COPOLYMERS OF (S)-2-[2-(4'-METHOXY-4-BIPHENYLOXY)-1-METHYL ETHOXY] ETHYL-METHACRYLATE AND A NONCHIRAL MESOGEN BASED ON ITACONIC ACID

An optically active monomer (S)-2-[2-(4'-methoxy-4-biphenyloxy)-methyl ethoxy] ethyl methacrylate (3) with a chiral centre located in the sp acer unit has been copolymerized with di-[6-(4'-methyl-4-biphenyloxy)h exyl]-2-methylene butane-1,4-dioate (2) to give a range of copolymers displaying either both smectic and chiral nematic or only chiral nemat ic, liquid crystal phases. These samples displayed selective reflectio n of visible light, the wavelength of which tended to shorten as the a mount of chiral monomer in the copolymer increased. There was also evi dence to suggest that the homopolymer of 3 reflects in the UV region.