Main chain liquid crystalline polymers with laterally linked organometallic mesogens

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of the phase behaviour of a homologous set of polymers of 1,m-diamino-n-alkanes with bis[4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzaldheyde]copper(II) is reported. The structural peculiarity of these polymers, which is indicated in the title, stems from the presence of metal-complexed salicylideneaminato segments connected via the nitrogen atoms. Calorimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic viscosity measurements indicate the occurrence of nematic mesomorphism for all the polymers-including two structural analogues containing Ni(II) or Pd(II) in place of Cu(II).