THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLY(VINYL ETHER)S WITH PENDANT CELLOBIOSE RESIDUES - SYNTHESIS AND MESOPHASE STRUCTURE

This study concerns the synthesis of poly(vinyl ether)s (VEs) carrying pendant cellobiose heptadecanoate (CHD) residues and their mesomorphi c properties examined by DSC, polarization microscopy and X-ray diffra ction. The poly(VE)s were synthesized through cationic polymerization of a CHD-substituted VE, i.e., 3,3',4',6,6'-hepta-O-decanoyl-beta-D-ce llobioside. From X-ray diffraction analyses, the mesophase of the poly (VE) proved to be closely similar to that of the star-shaped triplet d erivative. The mesophase is characterized by the following features; ( i) it consists of discotic columns built up by a regular stacking of t he pendant CHD residues, (ii) each polymer main chain is presumed to h ave an extended conformation due to the periodic stacking of the penda nt CHD moieties into a columnar structure, and (iii) each polymer mole cule independently forms three discotic columns, which surround the ma in chain, without any intercalation of the CHD pendants originating fr om different polymer molecules.