Synthesis and properties of polyacetylenes containing side-chain mesogens

The introduction of orientable pendant mesogenic moieties onto a polyacetylene backbone increases the conjugation in the main chain and yields polymers with a permanent coupling between electro-active properties and order. Recently, the use of a rigid polymer backbone, such as a polyene chain, to prepare side-chain liquid crystalline polymers has been considered with growing interest by various research groups. Focus is on synthesis, liquid-crystallinity, and optical properties of polyacetylenes with side-chain mesogens in this review. An attempt has been made to arrange a structural classification of side-chain liquid crystalline polyacetylenes in terms of mesogenic cores.