Synthesis and molecular properties of new side-chain liquid crystalline polymers based on the Baylis-Hillman reaction

A new methodology has been employed in synthesis of two side-chain liquid-c rystalline polymers with cyanobiphenylene mesogenic groups and variation of -CN, -COCH3 and -OH groups displacement in the backbone surrounding. Hydro dynamic and electrooptical (the Kerr effect) methods were used to study the ir molecular properties in solution in benzene and chloroform. Electrooptic al properties of polymers are compared with the same ones of homologous ser ies of alkoxycyanobiphenylenes as the model compounds of the polymer mesoge nic groups. Different mobility of the side-chain mesogenic groups in polyme rs under investigation was observed and related to the chemical and dipole structure.