Synthesis of novel tri-podal mesogenic alkenes and side-chain polysiloxanes

Low molecular weight tri-podal biphenyl- and benzoate-type mesogens [C6H5C6H4O(CH2)5SiMe2CH2CH2SiMe2]3CH (4), [C11H23O(C6H4)2O(CH2)5SiMe2]3CH (5) and [MeOC6H4OC(O)C6H4O(CH2)5SiMe2]3CH (6) (C6H4 = 1,4-phenylene) were obtained, from branched silyl substituted methane precursors [CH2double bond; length as m-dashCH(Me)2Si]3CH (1) and (HMe2Si)3CH (2). The biphenyl-containing ones (4) and (5) were converted into terminal alkenes, which were subsequently hydrosilylated with poly(methylsiloxanes). The polymer derived from (5) exhibited mesomorphic properties. Such systems have the potential to significantly increase the density of liquid crystal rod-like structures in side chains of linear polymers (or dendritic liquid crystal polymers).