Side-chain liquid-crystalline polysalts. Synthesis and thermal properties of poly{1-[ω-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenylyloxy)alkyl]-4-vinylpyridinium bromide} or poly[1-(2-{2-[2-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenylyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethyl)-4-vinylpyridinium bromide]

The synthesis and thermal properties of a new type of side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers, incorporating ionic groups, are described. The polymers are obtained upon spontaneous polymerization (simultaneous quaternization and polymerization) of 4-vinylpyridine in the presence of ω-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenylyloxy)alkyl or 2-{2-2-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenylyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}-ethyl bromide. Fully quaternized polymers of high molecular weight are obtained. As the analogous low-molecular-weight molecules previously studied these polymers form smectic mesophases, although the mesogenic groups, which include the pyridinium rings, are directly connected to the polyvinylic backbone.