Synthesis and characterization of reactive liquid crystals and polymers based on terphenyl derivatives

A series of liquid crystalline methacrylates based on terphenyl derivatives bearing a donor-pi -acceptor structure has been synthesized. The mesomorph ic, optical absorption, photoluminescent and non-linear optical properties of the monomers have been investigated. Polymerization of these monomers wa s first carried out in solution but the dicyanovinyl group seems to inhibit the reaction despite the fact that the DSC curves of the monomer provide e vidence for the occurrence of thermal polymerization. An IR study of this t hermal polymerization confirms that only methacrylate groups are involved i n the polymerization process. The mesomorphic and thermal properties of the resulting sidechain polymers have also been investigated. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.