Synthesis and characterization of side‐chain cholesteric liquid‐crystalline polymers derived from steroid substituents

A series of new cholesteric liquid-crystalline polysiloxanes derived from steroid substituents were synthesized. The chemical structures of the monomers or polymers obtained were characterized by FTIR, element analyses, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. Their mesogenic properties and thermal stability were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements. Monomers exhibited typical cholesteric focal-conic or spiral texture. The polymers P1P6 showed cholesteric phase and P7 displayed smectic phase. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006