Aneta Mirčeva, Miroslav Huskić, Majda Žigon

National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
 
 

ABSTRACT

A series of low molecular weight side-chain liquid crystal polyesters with azobenzene side chain mesogenic units were synthesised by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate and a-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)-omega-(4-methoxyazobenzene-4'-oxy) alkanes (Cn-diol, n=8, 10, 12). Monotropic low molecular weight liquid crystalline polyesters were synthesized using a reactant molar ratio of 1:1.2; upon cooling from the isotropic phase they form a smectic phase. With reactant molar ratios of 1:1.4 and 1:1.6 only oligomers were formed, which melt over a broad temperature range, thus preventing the determination of possible mesophase transitions.