Synthesis of a side chain liquid crystalline polymer containing the cholesteryl moiety via ROP and “click” chemistry

Propargyl monocholesterylsuccinate (ChPS) was prepared through the esterification of monocholesterylsuccinate with propargyl alcohol, and poly(3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxetane) (PAMMO) was synthesized via cationic polymerization, using boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst and benzyl alcohol as initiator in methylene chloride. Through the copper-catalyzed “click” reaction between the azide group on PAMMO and the alkyne group on ChPS, a side chain liquid crystalline polymer containing the cholesteryl moiety (Ch-SCLCP) was obtained. The “click” reaction was confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GPC studies. The resulting polymer showed thermotropic mesophase as judged by polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).