Synthesis and photopolymerization of cholesteric liquid crystalline diacrylates

Abstract
The synthesis of chiral liquid crystalline diacrylates is described. By mixing one of them with non-chiral liquid crystalline diacrylates. cholesteric phases are obtained of which the wavelength of reflection can be chosen by the composition of the mixture. After isothermal photopolymerization of the mixture a crosslinked network is obtained with thermally stable properties.