Synthesis and characterisation of a conjugated reactive mesogen

The synthesis of 2-methyl-1,4-bis[2-(4-propionyloxypropyloxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene (1) and 2-methyl-1,4-bis[2-(4-acryloyloxypropyloxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene (2) is reported. The liquid crystalline and photophysical behaviour has been investigated. Two liquid crystalline phases can be detected, with the lower temperature phase exhibiting strong H-aggregation. Thin films of the reactive mesogen in its liquid crystalline phase can be aligned into monodomains and can be polymerised in a controlled manner to give intractable anisotropic networks.