LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE OLIGO[OXY(DECAORGANOCY CLOHEXASILOXY-2,8-DIYL)]S

Representatives were obtained for the first time of the series of cycl olinear poly[oxy(decaorganocyclohexasiloxy-2,8-diyl)]s with various en d groups: hydroxyls, alkoxy groups; aliphatic fragments with ester- an d cyano-groups. The phases of cyclolinear oligomers with various degre es of polymerization were identified. The methods used were differenti al scanning calorimetry, X-rays scattering, and thermooptical analysis . It was found that oligomeric cyclosiloxanes have much in common with organic liquid-crystalline compounds. At the same time they retain so me peculiarities characteristic of organocyclosiloxanes. The influence of the anisodiametry of molecules, of Van der Waals volumes of the co res, and of the end groups of the molecules on the mesophase transitio n were considered.