Liquid Crystalline Behaviors of Polysiloxane with mesogenic side chains containing Cinnamoyl groups.

Abstract

4'-cyanobiphenyl-4-(2-propenyloxy) cinnamate(CPC) was synthesized as a side chain mesogenic unit containing a cinnamoyl group, and poly[4-(4'-cyanobiphenoxycarbonyl-vinylene)phenyloxypropyl methyl siloxane (PCMS) was prepared by hydrosilylation reaction between CPC and poly(methylsiloxane). The liquid crystalline behaviors of PCMS were investigated by thermal analysis, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. PCMS exhibited the following phase transition: G 28℃ SB 60℃ SA 140℃ N 189℃ I. When PCMS was liquid-crystallized from the isotropic melt in the electric field of alternating current, the mesogenic side chains were aligned along the electric fields.