Photoactive liquid crystalline polyesters based on bisbenzylidene and pyridine moieties

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.molstruc.2009.10.038

Photoactive main chain liquid crystalline polyesters containing bis(benzylidene)acetone and aromatic heterocyclic pyridine were synthesized by solution polycondensation. Chemical structure of monomers and polymers were confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Thermal property was investigated by TGA and DSC. Optical property of polyesters was studied in chloroform solution and in thin film under UV irradiation and exhibited cis-trans-photoisomerization. This behavior was witnessed by solubility, carbonyl group absorption band in FT-IR, optical microscopy as well as DSC analysis through existence of liquid crystallinity after irradiation of polymers.