Fully aromatic liquid-crystalline polyesters of phenyl-substituted 4,4'-biphenols and 1,1'-binaphthyl-4,4'-diol with either 2-bromoterephthalic acid or 2-phenylterephthalic acid

A sulfur(vi) fluoride exchange click chemistry approach towards main chain liquid crystal polymers bearing sulfate ester groups

Here we report a sulfur(vi) fluoride exchange click chemistry approach towards the synthesis of main chain liquid crystal polymers.

Phase behavior of main-chain liquid crystalline polymer networks synthesized by alkyne-azide cycloaddition chemistry

Liquid crystalline polymer networks (LCNs) couple polymer chain organization to molecular ordering, the switching of which has been shown to impart stimuli-responsive properties, including actuation and one-way shape memory, to the networks. While LCNs have long been proposed as artificial muscles, recent reports have also suggested potential as dynamic biomaterial substrates. In contrast to many existing LCNs synthesized using hydrophobic spacers, this work investigates networks synthesized using more hydrophilic spacers to promote interaction with water. A challenge with such materials is liquid crystalline phases could be disrupted in hydrated networks. This work thus investigates the impact of polyether spacers and mesogen composition on the phase behavior of LCNs. Main-chain LCNs were synthesized using alkyne-azide cycloaddition ("click" chemistry), where two different mesogens (5yH and 5yMe) and a non-LC monomer (5yTe) were coupled with one of two different polyether spacers, poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(propylene glycol), and a crosslinker. The chemistry led to high gel fraction materials, the workup of which resulted in networks that displayed no difference in cellular toxicity due to leachable components compared to tissue culture plastic control. Calorimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and X-ray scattering revealed the LC microstructure and temperature-responsive properties of the networks. The use of low molecular weight polyether spacers was found to prevent their crystallization within the LC network, and adjusting mesogen composition to enhance its LC phase stability allowed the use of spacers with larger molecular weights and pendant groups. Hydrated networks were found to rearrange their structure compared to dry networks, while maintaining their LC phases. Like other crosslinked LC materials, the networks display shape changes (actuation) that are tied to changes in LC ordering. The result is a new synthetic approach for polydomain networks that form stable LC phases that are tailorable using polyether spacers and may enable future application as hydrated, stimuli-responsive materials.

High-performance all-aromatic liquid crystalline esteramide-based thermosets

We have synthesized and characterized a new family of nematic all-aromatic polyesteramide thermosets based on 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA), terephthalic acid (TA), and 4-acetamidophenol (AAP). In order to incorporate a high concentration of the amide-based monomer (AAP), the melt transition ( T K-N) and melt viscosity had to be lowered in order to maintain melt processable intermediates. Precursor thermoplastic reactive oligomers, end-capped with phenylethynyl functionalities, were prepared using standard melt condensation techniques with a target M n of 1000–9000 g mol−1. The reactive oligomers with 20–30 mol% AAP could easily be processed into films, and the films exhibit good tensile properties in terms of tensile strength (70–80 MPa) and elongation at break (7–10%). A glass transition of 191°C could be obtained when a 1000 g mol−1 oligomer (HNA/TA/AAP(20)–1 K) was thermally cross-linked. When the AAP concentration reaches 35 mol%, the rigidity of the backbone and the hydrogen bonding interactions are enhanced, which make HNA/TA/AAP(35) polymers difficult to process.

An entropy-driven ring-opening metathesis polymerization approach towards main-chain liquid crystalline polymers

In this manuscript, an entropy-driven ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ED-ROMP) approach is applied for the first time in producing main-chain liquid crystalline polymers by polymerizing a macrocyclic olefin monomer.