Comb-branch chiral liquid crystalline polymers - IV. Copolymers of (S)-2-[2-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenyloxy)-1-methyl ethoxy] ethyl methacrylate and a non chiral mesogen based on itaconic acid

An optically active monomer (S)-2-[2-(4'-methoxy-4-biphenyloxy)-methyl ethoxy] ethyl methacrylate (3) with a chiral centre located in the spacer unit has been copolymerized with di-[6-(4'-methyl-4-biphenyloxy)hexyl]-2-methylene butane-1,4-dioate (2) to give a range of copolymers displaying either both smectic and chiral nematic or only chiral nematic, liquid crystal phases. These samples displayed selective reflection of visible light, the wavelength of which tended to shorten as the amount of chiral monomer in the copolymer increased. There was also evidence to suggest that the homopolymer of 3 reflects in the UV region.