SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYOXETANES WITH A SPACER-SEPARATED AZOBENZENE MOIETY .1. PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Several oxetane derivatives carrying the azobenzene moiety at the C-3 position of the oxetane ring through the spacer arms of differing leng ths were prepared by a substitution reaction of the corresponding brom ide or p-toluenesulfonate residue of the oxetane with 4-hydroxyazobenz enes. The polymers of these oxetane derivatives were readily obtained by cationic ring-opening polymerization using the adequately increased amount of a THF. BF3 complex as an initiator at 20-30-degrees-C. The liquid crystalline property of the polymers thus obtained were examine d by differential scanning calorimetry and by optical polarized micros copy. From these measurements the influences of the p'-substituted azo benzene and of the spacer arm on the liquid crystalline property were found.