CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE CHOLESTERYL AND CYANOBIPHENYL SIDE-CHAINS PENDENT TO TRANS-POLYPENTENAMER

trans-Polypentenamers with thermotropic liquid-crystalline side chains cholesteryl and cyanobiphenyl were prepared by ring-opening polymeriz ation of vinylcyclopropane monomers with proper substituents. Molecula r weights of the polymers were in the range of 25000 to 80000 and the ratios of weight- to number-average molecular weights (M) over bar(w)/ (M) over bar(n) were between 3.3 and 3.8. The glass transition tempera ture values of the polymers were 35 degrees C (4a) and 39 degrees C (4 b). Monomers 3a and 3b present cholesteric and smectic mesomorphism, r espectively. On the other hand, polymers 4a and 4b present only a smec tic mesophase.