SYNTHESIS AND PHASE-BEHAVIOR OF SIDE-CHAIN LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS WITH PENDANT QUINOLINE RINGS BEARING EITHER A POLAR OR A NONPOLAR END GROUP

Four methacrylate monomers, 2a-2d, containing a quinoline ring with a NO2 or a OCH3 group at the end of the mesogen were synthesized and pol ymerized. The copolymers with six methylene units as spacer, 3b-3d, sh owed a smectic phase induced by electron donor-acceptor interactions o f the side groups. The homopolymer with eleven methylene units as spac er and methoxy end group, 3f, showed a smectic phase induced by the la rge length of the spacer. The copolymers with eleven methylene units, 3g-3i, showed a smectic phase induced by both the electron donor-accep tor interactions of the side groups and the large length of the spacer .