Optically-active comb-branch liquid crystalline polymers having the chiral center in the flexible spacer unit. III. Copolymers of (S)-2-(4′-cyano-4-biphenylyloxy)-1-methylethoxy ethyl methacrylate and di[6-(4-methoxy-4′-oxybiphenyl) hexyl]-2-methylene butane-1,4-dioate

A new series of copolymers with optically-active liquid crystalline side chain units has been synthesized from the comonomers (S)-2-[2-(4'-cyano-4-biphenylyloxy-1-methyl-ethoxy] ethyl methacrylate (1) and di[6-(4-methoxy-4'-oxybiphenyl) hexyl]-2-methylene butane-1,4-dioate (4). Chiral nematic phases were exhibited by two members of the series, rich in monomer 1, while a smectic phase was exhibited in copolymers rich in 4. While it was thought possible that ordered chiral liquid crystalline phases may be induced by copolymerizing chiral mesogenic monomers with mesogenic derivatives of itaconic acid where the high side chain density encourages greater ordering in the system, no evidence of smectic C phases could be found in the present systems.