Novel liquid crystalline polyrotaxane with movable mesogenic side chains

A novel side-chain liquid crystalline polyrotaxane (LCPR) whose mesogenic side chains can slide and rotate on the linear backbone was first developed. To obtain the LCPR, 6-(4'-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy)hexanoyl chloride was prepared and reacted with a polyrotaxane consisting of alpha-cyclodextrin, poly(ethylene glycol) (M-w = 35 000), and adamantane end groups. The molecular characterization of the LCPR was performed with FT-IR, H-1 NMR, and gel permeation chromatography analysis. Its phase structures and transitions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarized light microscopy experiments. The experimental results shows that the LCPR has glass transition at 70 degrees C and mesomorphic-isotropic transition at 129 degrees C.