Self-organization of liquid crystalline 3,4,5-tris[(11-methacryloyl-undecyl-1-oxy)-4-benzyloxy]benzoates in low-shrinkage methacrylate mixtures

Crystallization and supramolecular aggregation of 3,4,5-tris[(11-methacrylo yl-undecyl-1-oxy)-4-benzyloxy]benzoate (1), 2-methyl-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxab enzocyclopentadecane)-3,4,5-tris [(11-methacryloyl-undecyl-1-oxy)-4-benzoxy loxy] benzoate (2) and its 1 : 1 sodium triflate complex (2a) are described in solutions of methacrylate monomers. Formation of gels and subsequent po lymerization yielded "supramolecular interpenetrating networks" consisting of an isotropic polymethacrylate resin, percolated by supramolecular aggreg ates of the solute, which are covalently connected to the resin phase. Comp ound 1 formed whisker-type crystals, while 2 self-organizes in networks of elongated supramolecular fibrils with diameters corresponding to the twofol d length of one molecule. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.