Synthesis and characterization of side chain liquid crystalline polymer with a polythiophene backbone

Poly{3-(4-methoxy-4'-hexyloxybiphenyl)oxymethlthiophene} (PolyMHOT) has bee n prepared to examined the effect of liquid crystalline properties on the c onducting polymer structure. This monomer exhibited enantiotropic smectic l iquid crystalline mesophase. Polymerization was carried out by chemical and electrochemical methods. In chemical method, polymer yield were quite high and the polymerization required 3 eq. of oxidant to monomer, In the electr ochemical procedure, the monomer exhibits an anodic peak due to the formati on of radical cation with onset potential about 1.10 V and form electroacti ve polymer film. However, poly(MHOT) was insoluble organic solvents and not observed liquid crystalline properties due to small portion of crosslinked polymer structure and inherently rigid polythiophene backbone. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.