Synthesis and Mesomorphhic properties of polymers with banana-shaped mesogen and effect of lateral substituent

Abstract

Since ferroelectricity was discovered in tilted smectic phases of chiral molecules, chirality has been a most attractive subject in the research field of liquid crystals. When any structural factors can reduced the overall symmetry of the mesophase, the chirality of mesophase could appear even in liquid crystal systems without chemical chirality. In 1996, the first obvious example of ferroelectricity formed by achiral molecules was observed in a smectic phase of achiral banana-shaped molecules. In 2002, we first reported the synthesis and properties of the new main-chain liquid crystalline poly(azomethines) with banana-shaped mesogen. Later, we first reported the main chain polymers containing banana-shaped mesogens could form the banana-phases. In this presentation, synthesis of novel liquid crystalline polymers and model compounds varying the bend-angle of a central core in the mesogen and the effects of lateral substituents will be described.