CONVENIENT SYNTHESIS OF A DISCOTIC SIDE-GROUP LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMER

The synthesis of a discotic side group liquid crystal polymer based on poly(methyl methacrylate) is reported. This involves the oxidative co upling of 3,3',4,4'-tetrakis(hexyloxy)biphenyl with 1-hexyloxy-2-metho xybenzene to yield the unsymmetrical triphenylene nucleus, ethoxy-3,6, 7,10,11-pentakis(hexyloxy)triphenylene. Subsequent demethylation follo wed by reactions first with 1,11-dibromoundecane and then with the pot assium salt of methacrylic acid yielded the polymerisable monomer, 10, 11-pentakis(hexyloxy)-2-oxytriphenylene]undecyl methacrylate. This was polymerised in benzene using azoisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Th e thermal properties of the resulting polymer are described.