Supramolecular hexagonal structure of a segmented liquid crystalline polyester with allyl group as lateral substituent

The molecular structure of the phase-stable at room temperature-for the pol ymer with formula [-p-C6H4-COO-p-C6H3(R)p-C6H3(R)-OOC-p-C6H4-O-(CH2)(10)O-] (x), with R =-CH2-=CH=CH2, is reported. The cell is hexagonal (a = b = 13.4 3 Angstrom, c = 33.3 Angstrom, gamma = 120 degrees), space group P6(3), six chains per unit cell (d(calcd) = 1.23 g cm(-3)). The six chains are packed together to give a, bundle with the center of mass set at the origin of th e unit cell. The allyl groups are placed inside the bundle, thus explaining the unexpected reactivity of the double bonds to give crosslinking when fi ber samples are annealed in the solid state. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, In c.