Facile Synthesis of Novel Monodisperse Liquid-crystalline Oligomers Based on Michael Adducts from Millipede Cyanoacetates

Abstract Facile synthesis of novel monodisperse liquid-crystalline (LC) oligomers was performed. The functionalization of the end group of 4 (and 6) millipede cyanoacetates with 8 (and 12) mesogenic units by Michael addition reaction produced a monodisperse LC octamer (and dodecamer) in high yields. Differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarizing microscopy revealed LC properties of the synthesized LC monodisperse oligomers. The monodisperse LC oligomers were morphologically stable glass-forming LC materials and exhibited a large variation in nematic phase temperatures in the range of approximately 80 to 300 °C.