SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL SULFONYL-CONTAINING LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE SIDE-CHAIN POLY(VINYL ETHERS)

The synthesis of some new liquid-crystalline polymers with sulfonyl-containing mesogenic groups is described. 4-[(S)-(-)-2-Methylbutylsulfonyl]-4'-(11-vinyloxy)undecyloxy]bi-phenyl (10-11), 4-[(S)-(-)-2-methylbutylsulfonyl]-4'-[8-(vinyloxy)octyloxy]biphenyl (10-8), 4-[(S)-(-)-2-methylbutylsulfonyl]biphenyl 4-[11-(vinyloxy)undecyloxy]benzoate (12-11), 4-[(S)-(-)-2-methylbutylsulfonyl]biphenyl 4-[8 -(vinyloxy)octyloxy]benzoate (12-8), 4-[(S)(-)-2-methylbutyloxyl-4'- [11-(vinyloxy)undecylsulfonyl]biphenyl (18-11) and 2-[11-(vinyloxy)undecyloxyl-6-{4-[(S)-(-)-2- methylbutylsulfonyl]phenyl}naphthalene (23-11) were all synthesized, and polymerized with the initiating system CF3SO3H/S(CH3)(2) in CH2Cl2 at 0 degrees C. Monomers 10-11, 10-8, 18-11 and 23-11 are crystalline, while both 12-11 and 12-8 show an enantiotropic smectic A phase. All polymers exhibit the same thermotropic behaviour as their corresponding monomers, except poly(23-11) which exhibits an enantiotropic smectic A (s(A)) and a monotropic chiral smectic C phase (s(C)*).