Molecular orientation of paramagnetic metal complexes in melt‐drawn fibers of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

Liquid crystalline polyesters as host polymers and paramagnetic metal complexes as guest molecules were prepared, and melt‐drawn fibers were made from their blend at mesophase temperature. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction patterns of the fibers indicated that the nematic or smectic phase is frozen during melt‐drawing. The molecular orientation of the metal complexes in the fibers was investigated by means of ESR. The order parameter obtained from the ESR spectra of the fibers suggests that the base of the square planar Cu(II) and pyramidal V(IV)O complex is almost completely oriented parallel to the fiber axis.