Synthesis and characterization of side-chain liquid crystalline polydienes and their hydrogenated derivatives

Polydienes having mesogenic groups in the side chain and their hydrogenated derivatives were synthesized by the radical polymerization of diene derivatives with siloxane linkage in the spacer and benzoates as mesogenic groups, followed by hydrogenation of the double bond of the main chain. The stereochemistry of the main chain is principally (E)-1,4) elucidated by NOESY spectrum. The diene polymers take smectic liquid crystalline state, basically with fan like structure, irrespective of spacer length. The hydrogenated polymers did not take clear mesophase structures.