Synthesis, polymerization and structural characterization of a novel liquid crystalline side-chain poly(vinyl ether) containing dicyanovinyl groups and displaying coexisting smectic phases

The synthesis and cationic polymerization of the new monomer 4-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)-4'-(11-vinyloxyundecyloxy)biphenyl (6) is described. The dicyanovinyl group tolerated thermally initiated and photoinitiated cationic bulk polymerization using onium salts as well as the BF 3 .(EtO) 2 -initiated solution polymerization in CH 2 Cl 2 at -15 °C. Monomer 6 was crystalline, whereas poly(6) with increasing temperature exhibited coexisting S A d and S c phases, an S A d phase with extensive thermal stability and an isotropic phase. Poly(6) exhibited a glass transition at 20 °C.