Polymerization of p-Methacryloyloxybenzoic Acid in Liquid Crystalline Solvents; Phase Diagrams of Some Model Systems

During the past few years, interest in reactions of molecules organized within a mesophase has developed considerably. In particular, an increasing number of publications describes the synthesis and polymerization of mesomorphic vinyl monomers. Vinyl oleate, for example, has been polymerized in its smectic state by Amerik and Krentzel.1 Hardy and coworkers2 have studied the kinetics of polymerization of cholesteryl acrylate in the smectic state and Paleos and Labes3 have reported the kinetics of polymerization of N-(p-methoxy-O-hydroxybenzylidene) p-aminostyrene in its nematic state. Other reports of polymerization of cholesteryl acrylate and methacrylate4,5,6,7 also been published and recently Strzelecki and Lieberts have reported the synthesis and polymerization of various monomeric Schiff bases in their liquid crystalline state.