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Liquid crystal polymers containing permanent dipole azobenzene chromophores
Author(s) -
Altomare Angelina,
Andruzzi Luisa,
Ciardelli Francesco,
Mader Michele,
Tirelli Nicola,
Solaro Roberto
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19991370105
Subject(s) - photochromism , azobenzene , monomer , moiety , methacrylate , polymer chemistry , chromophore , materials science , polymer , molar mass , photochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material
Three photochromic monomers containing a permanent dipole photochromic azobenzene group spaced from the methacryloyl moiety by a polymethylene segment were synthesized in three steps starting from 4‐cyanoaniline. The monomers were homopolymerized and copolymerized with an optically active monomer, (‐)‐menthyl methacrylate, in the presence of AIBN as a radical initiator. Structurally similar amphiphilic polymers were obtained by homopolymerization of analogous methacrylates in which oligo(oxyethylene) segments replaced the polymethylene spacers. The polymeric materials, having a molar content of photochromic units between 5 and 100% and molecular weights of about 15,000, were characterized by thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction, 1D and 2D NMR. Mobility and photochromic properties in solution were also investigated.