Photoreactivity of polymers with regioisomeric cinnamate side chains and their ability to regulate liquid crystal alignment

Photoproduct distribution in films of cinnamate polymers was analyzed to reveal the contribution of both photoisomerization and photodimerization to LC alignment photoregulation. A polymethacrylate with o-cinnamate side chains displayed preferential formation of Z-isomer while the dimerization takes place more favorably for other polymers including poly(vinyl cinnamate). On the basis of the relationship between photoproduct distribution and liquid crystal photoalignment and on the reversibility of the photoinduced reorientation of a liquid crystal, it was concluded that the photoalignment results from the polarization photoisomerization of cinnamate residues in the same manner as that of photochromic moieties like azobenzenes, whereas the (2 + 2) photodimerization plays a role in enhancing the thermal stability of the homogeneous photoalignment.