Synthesis and thermal properties of new chalcone-based side-chain polymers

Abstract

We synthesized two types of photocrosslinkable side-chain liquid crystalline polymers (SLCPs) with a chalcone derivative in the side chain. One is a polymer having the chalconyl moiety directly connected to the benzoate component, the other is a polymer with a spacer group introduced between the cyanobiphenyl and the chalconyl moiety. The thermal properties of these polymers were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy measurements and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Mesophase structures of these polymers were examined by X-ray measurements. A smectic phase was exhibited for the polymers.