Vibrational Spectroscopy of Certain Polymaleic- and Polyacrylic-Based Mesomorphic Polymers

Abstract
The FT-IR/ATR technique has been employed in the investigation of the forces leading to the organization of a number of polymeric materials exhibiting thermotropic liquid crystalline character. Two types of compounds have been studied, i.e., one bearing the carboxylic polar group near the main chain and the other at the end of the side chain. Intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic groups was found to lead to the formation of “facing” and “sideways” structures. Enhanced stability of these supramolecular structures was obtained by the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the amide groups, resulting in the formation of smectic phases. Furthermore, it has been found that the strengthening of hydrogen bonding between carboxylic groups is associated with a weakening of hydrogen bonds between the amide groups.

This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit: