Synthesis and Properties of Liquid Crystalline Polyesters with Y-Shaped Mesogens

Abstract A number of new liquid crystalline polymers characterized by triad ester segments as mesogenic main chain units connected together by polymethylene spacers and endowed with lateral groups consisting of a rigid azobenzene part and different substituents were synthesized. These polyesters were subjected to polarizing microscopy, DSC and preliminary X-ray investigations. There are two opposing effects of lateral groups with respect to the mesophase stability.