Synthesis of polypropyleneimine dendrimers having peripheral cinnamate units for homogeneous alignment

Abstract

We synthesized a polypropyleneimime dendrimer having peripheral cinnamate unit through ortho-linked benzoate group (D2-6oCC2). Polarizing optical microgram (POM) image of mixture of D2-6oCC2 and nematic liquid crystal (1/99, wt/wt) did not exhibit homeotropic alignment differing from the other dendrimers we have reported. After linearly polarized UV light (LPUV) was irradiated, the mixture showed slightly dark field under crossed polarizers. When rotating the sample by 45°, the image became brighter. This result indicates D2-6oCC2 has potential to be an alignment agent for homogeneous orientation.