Main-chain liquid crystalline polymers based on bis-etherified 9,9-dihexyl-2, 7-bis(4′-hydroxy-1,1′-biphen-4-yl)fluorenes

A series of liquid crystalline compounds based on 2,7-bis(biphenyl)fluorenes was synthesised by a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction and subsequent etherification with different bromoalkenes. By simple variations of the chain lengths the temperature range in which the nematic mesophase is present could be tuned. The described approach offers the possibility of covalent incorporation of the mesogens into polymers via olefin metathesis techniques, resulting in enlarged stability of the mesophase. Monomers and polymers could be easily aligned on rubbed polyimide substrates as revealed by polarised absorption spectroscopy.