V. Percec, Myongsoo Lee, C. Ackerman
1992
Citations
0
Influential Citations
29
Citations
Journal
Polymer
Abstract
Abstract The synthesis and living cationic polymerization of 5-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]pentyl vinyl ether ( 6-5 ) and 7-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]heptyl vinyl ether ( 6–7 ) are present. The influence of molecular weight on the mesomorphic behaviour of poly( 6-5 ) and poly( 6–7 ) is discussed and compared to that of 5-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]pentyl ethyl ether ( 8-5 ) and 7-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]heptyl ethyl ether ( 8-7 ) which are models of the monomeric structural units of poly( 6-5 ) and poly( 6–7 ). Both ( 8-5 ) and ( 8-7 ) exhibit a monotropic nematic mesophase. Poly( 6-5 ) with degrees of polymerization equal to and lower than six exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase. Poly( 6-5 )s with higher degrees of polymerization display both smectic A and nematic enantiotropic mesophases. Poly( 6–7 ) exhibits an enantiotropic smectic A mesophase over the entire range of molecular weights.