Synthesis and chain rigidity of Mesogen-Jacketed Liquid-Crystalline Polymers based on poly(2,5-disubstituted-styrene)

The evolution of the concept ''Mesogen-Jacketed Liquid Crystal Polymer (MJLCP)'' is described. When mesogenic units attached through no or only very short spacer to the main chain with a side-on attachment, there should form a ''jacket'' of mesogenic units around each chain backbone. The polymer chains are forced to take extended conformations and show properties of rigid or semi-rigid macromolecules. MJLCPs thus may be termed also ''Rigid SC-LCPs'' because they are not only liquid crystal polymers of the side chain type when viewed chemically but also of significant rigidity when viewed physically as are many of the main chain type liquid crystal polymers. The synthesis and properties (with emphasis an chain rigidity) of representative MJLCPs are discussed. This concept would have bridged the gap present in between the conventional side-chain LCPs and the main-chain LCPs.Chemistry, MultidisciplinaryEngineering, ChemicalPolymer ScienceSCI(E)3