LIQUID-CRYSTAL POLYMERS CONTAINING MACROHETEROCYCLIC LIGANDS .4. SYNTHESIS OF MESOMORPHIC POLYMERS CONTAINING CROWN ETHERS BY CATIONIC CYCLO-COPOLYMERIZATION OF 1,2-BIS(2-ETHENYLOXYETHOXY) BENZENE WITH MESOGENIC VINYL ETHERS

Cationic cyclopolymerization, polymerization and/or cyclocopolymerization of 1,2-bis(2-ethenyloxyethoxy)benzene (DVE), 11-[(4′-cyano-4-biphenyl)oxy]undecanyl vinyl ether (CVE), and 3-[2-(1,2,2-trifluoroethoxy-2-(4-methoxy-4′-(α-methylsti lbene) oxy))-1-(trifluoromethyl)trifluoroethoxy]-1-[2-(ethenyloxy) ethoxy]-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane (MVE) initiated with H2O/EtAlCl2/S′(CH3)2 lead to polymers and copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution. Poly(DVE) is amorphous, while poly(CVE) and poly(MVE) display a SA and crystalline mesophase. The poly(DVE-co-MVE)s are amorphous. Poly(DVE-co-CVE)s containing 50 mol% and above of CVE structural units displays a SA mesophase.