NEW THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMERS CONTAINING THE HIGH-BIREFRINGENCE CYANOTOLAN MOIETY

The high birefringence cyanotolan moiety was employed to synthesize no vel nematic homopolymers and, with (S)-(-)-1-phenylethanol, left-hande d cholesteric copolymers without any other mesophases existing between T(g) and T(c). The DSC thermograms revealed that at an increasing spa cer length, T(g) shows a monotonic decrease and T(c) is governed by th e oft-quoted odd-even effect. Both series of mesomorphic polymers were found to be readily soluble in common organic solvents, to be capable of vitrification with the glass transition above room temperature, to be thermally stable up to 250-degrees-C, and not to absorb light in t he visible and near-infrared region, all of which are desirable for op tical applications.