Synthesis and characterization of reactive liquid crystals and polymers based on terphenyl derivatives

A series of liquid crystalline methacrylates based on terphenyl derivatives bearing a donor–π-acceptor structure has been synthesized. The mesomorphic, optical absorption, photoluminescent and non-linear optical properties of the monomers have been investigated. Polymerization of these monomers was first carried out in solution but the dicyanovinyl group seems to inhibit the reaction despite the fact that the DSC curves of the monomer provide evidence for the occurrence of thermal polymerization. An IR study of this thermal polymerization confirms that only methacrylate groups are involved in the polymerization process. The mesomorphic and thermal properties of the resulting side-chain polymers have also been investigated.