Mesogens and methods for their synthesis and use
New, efficient methods for making novel platform molecules and polymerizable mesogens are provided, as well as the novel mesogens and methods of using same.
1. Polymerizable mesogens have the following general structure:
wherein:
n is from 2 to 5;
R 2 is a bulky organic group;
R 10 independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl groups;
R 13 independently is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms;
R 14 independently is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms provided that said substituted alkyl groups consist essentially of one or fewer methyl substituents.
2. The polymerizable mesogens of claim 1 wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, and secondary butyl groups.
3. The polymerizable mesogens of claim 1 wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups and methyl groups.
4. Secondary polymerizable mesogens having the following general structure:
wherein:
n is from about 2 to about 5;
R 2 is a bulky organic group;
R 10 independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl groups;
R 13 independently is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms; and,
R 11 and R 12 independently are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl groups, provided that no more than one of R 11 and R 12 is a methyl group.
5. A method for producing mesogens comprising reacting difunctional acyl halide molecules with platform molecules comprising three or more phenylene rings joined by internal ester linkages, said reacting occurring under conditions effective to form one or more external ester linkages between two or more of said difunctional acyl halide molecules, said conditions also being effective to produce one or more joining ester linkage between said platform molecules and one or more group comprising said external ester linkages and to produce a reaction product comprising said mesogens.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said mesogens comprise the following structure:
wherein
n is from 1 to 5;
R 2 is a bulky organic group;
R 1 and R 3 are selected from groups less bulky than R 2 ; and,
R 14 independently is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, provided that said substituted alkyl groups consist essentially of one or fewer methyl substituents;
R13 independently is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said conditions further comprise forming one or more ester linkages between said groups comprising one or more external ester linkages and hydroxyalkyls having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms comprising polymerizable groups, producing polymerizable mesogens.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein said conditions further comprise forming one or more ester linkages between said groups comprising one or more external ester linkages and hydroxyalkyls having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms comprising polymerizable groups, producing polymerizable mesogens.
9. The method of claim 6 further comprising extracting monomers wherein n is 1 from said reaction product, said reaction product having a first nematic to isotropic transition temperature (T n->isotropic ), said extracting being continued to achieve a extraction product having a final T n->isotropic that is greater than said first T n->isotropic .
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising extracting monomers wherein n is 1 from said reaction product, said reaction product having a first nematic to isotropic transition temperature (T n->isotropic ), said extracting being continued to achieve a extraction product having a final T n->isotropic that is greater than said first T n->isotropic .
11. The method of claim 7 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein said extraction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein said extraction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
15. The method of claim 7 wherein said hydroxyalkyls have from about 2 to about 9 carbon atoms.
16. The method of claim 8 wherein said hydroxyalkyls have from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms.
17. The method of claim 5 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
18. The method of claim 6 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
19. The method of claim 8 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
20. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, and secondary butyl groups, and combinations thereof.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, secondary butyl groups, and combinations thereof.
22. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups, methyl groups, and combinations thereof.
23. The method of claim 14 wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups, methyl groups, and combinations thereof.
24. The method of claim 5 wherein said conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
25. The method of claim 6 wherein said conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
26. The method of claim 7 wherein said conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
27. The method of claim 14 wherein said conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
28. The method of claim 21 wherein said conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
29. The method of claim 23 wherein said conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
30. The method of claim 5 wherein said conditions comprise a hindered amine.
31. The method of claim 7 wherein said conditions comprise a hindered amine.
32. The method of claim 12 wherein said conditions comprise a hindered amine.
33. The method of claim 14 wherein said conditions comprise a hindered amine.
34. The method of claim 21 wherein said conditions comprise a hindered amine.
35. The method of claim 29 wherein said conditions comprise a hindered amine.
36. The method of claim 5 further comprising separating said mesogens from a remainder of said reaction product.
37. The method of claim 36 further comprises polymerizing said mesogens.
38. The method of claim 6 further comprising extracting monomers wherein n is 1 from said reaction product.
39. The method of claim 7 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 3 vol % change or less.
40. The method of claim 7 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 2 vol. % change or less.
41. The method of claim 7 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise epoxy groups.
42. The method of claim 35 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise epoxy groups.
43. The method of claim 7 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise a terminal unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.
44. The method of claim 26 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise a terminal unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.
45. The method of claim 35 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise a terminal unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.
46. A method for producing mesogens comprising:
reacting difunctional acyl halide molecules with one or more hydroxyalkyls having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms comprising polymerizable groups, said reacting occurring under first conditions effective to form one or more external ester linkages between two or more of said difunctional acyl halide molecules to produce an intermediate mixture;
subjecting said intermediate mixture to platform molecules comprising three or more phenylene rings joined by internal ester linkages, said subjecting occurring under second conditions effective to form one or more joining ester linkages between said platform molecules and one and or more groups comprising said one or more external ester linkages, producing a reaction product comprising polymerizable mesogens.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein said polymerizable mesogens comprise the following structure:
wherein
n is from 1 to 5;
R 2 is said bulky organic group;
R 1 and R 3 are selected from groups less bulky than R 2 ; and,
R 14 independently is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, provided that said substituted alkyl groups consist essentially of one or fewer methyl substituents;
R 13 independently is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms.
48. The method of claim 47 further comprising extracting monomers wherein n is 1 from said reaction product, said reaction product having a first nematic to isotropic transition temperature (T n->isotropic , said extracting being continued to achieve a an extraction product having a final T n->isotropic that is greater than said first T n->isotropic .
49. The method of claim 46 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
50. The method of claim 47 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
51. The method of claim 48 wherein said extraction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
52. The method of claim 46 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules comprising different R 2 groups.
53. The method of claim 46 wherein said hydroxyalkyls have from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms.
54. The method of claim 52 wherein said hydroxyalkyls have from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms.
55. The method of claim 46 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
56. The method of claim 52 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
57. The method of claim 53 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
58. The method of claim 54 wherein said difunctional acyl halide molecules are dicarboxylic acyl chloride molecules having the following general structure:
Cl—C(O)—(CH 2 ) x —(O)C—Cl
wherein x is from about 2 to 12.
59. The method of claim 46 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, and secondary butyl groups, and combinations thereof.
60. The method of claim 53 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, and secondary butyl groups, and combinations thereof.
61. The method of claim 54 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, and secondary butyl groups, and combinations thereof.
62. The method of claim 58 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl groups, t-butyl groups, isopropyl groups, phenyl groups, and secondary butyl groups, and combinations thereof.
63. The method of claim 46 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups, methyl groups, and combinations thereof.
64. The method of claim 53 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups, methyl groups, and combinations thereof.
65. The method of claim 54 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups, methyl groups, and combinations thereof.
66. The method of claim 58 further comprising providing as said platform molecules bis 1,4 [4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy]-R 2 -phenylene molecules wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl groups, methyl groups, and combinations thereof.
67. The method of claim 46 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
68. The method of claim 53 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
69. The method of claim 54 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
70. The method of claim 58 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
71. The method of claim 62 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
72. The method of claim 46 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
73. The method of claim 53 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
74. The method of claim 54 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
75. The method of claim 58 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
76. The method of claim 62 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
77. The method of claim 71 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
78. The method of claim 46 further comprising separating said polymerizable mesogens from a remainder of said reaction product.
79. The method of claim 78 further comprises polymerizing said polymerizable mesogens.
80. The method of claim 46 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 3 vol % change or less.
81. The method of claim 46 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 2 vol. % change or less.
82. The method of claim 52 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 2 vol. % change or less.
83. The method of claim 52 wherein
said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.; and,
said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 2 vol. % change or less.
84. The method of claim 46 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise epoxy groups.
85. The method of claim 58 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise epoxy groups.
86. The method of claim 70 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise epoxy groups.
87. The method of claim 46 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise a terminal unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.
88. The method of claim 58 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise a terminal unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.
89. The method of claim 70 wherein said polymerizable groups comprise a terminal unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.
90. The method of claim 46 wherein said polymerizable mesogens have the following general structure:
where:
n is from 1 to 5;
R 2 comprises a bulky organic group;
R 10 independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl groups;
R 14 independently is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, provided that said substituted alkyl groups consist essentially of one or fewer methyl substituents;
R 13 independently is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms.
91. The method of claim 90 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
92. The method of claim 90 wherein said first conditions comprise a hindered amine.
93. The method of claim 90 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature of from about 20 to about 40° C.
94. The method of claim 90 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 3 vol % change or less.
95. The method of claim 90 wherein said reaction product produces a polymerization shrinkage of about 2 vol. % change or less.
96. The method of claim 46 wherein said second conditions comprise catalyst.
97. The method of claim 46 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
98. The method of claim 58 wherein said second conditions comprise catalyst.
99. The method of claim 58 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
100. The method of claim 70 wherein said second conditions comprise catalyst.
101. The method of claim 70 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
102. The method of claim 75 wherein said second conditions comprise catalyst.
103. The method of claim 75 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
104. The method of claim 77 wherein said second conditions comprise catalyst.
105. The method of claim 77 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
106. A method for producing mesogens comprising:
reacting difunctional acyl halide molecules selected from the group consisting of adipoyl chloride, sebacoyl chloride, and combinations thereof, with a first quantity of hydroxyethylmethacrylate molecules under first conditions effective to form one or more external ester linkages between two or more of said difunctional acyl halide molecules to produce an intermediate mixture;
subjecting said intermediate mixture to platform molecules comprising three or more phenylene rings joined by internal ester linkages, said platform molecules being selected from the group consisting of 1,4 bis(4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy)t-butylphenylene, 1,4 bis(4′-hydroxybenzoyloxy)methylphenylene, and combinations thereof, under second conditions effective form one or more joining ester linkages between said platform molecules and one or more group comprising said one or more external ester linkage to produce a reaction product comprising polymerizable mesogens.
107. The method of claim 106 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of alkyl halides, ethers, and combinations thereof.
108. The method of claim 106 wherein said first conditions comprise a solvent comprising methylene chloride.
109. The method of claim 106 wherein said first conditions comprise an amount of hindered amine.
110. The method of claim 107 wherein said first conditions comprise an amount of hindered amine.
111. The method of claim 108 wherein said first conditions comprise an amount of hindered amine.
112. The method of claim 106 wherein said first conditions comprise a first quantity of tribenzylamine.
113. The method of claim 107 wherein said first conditions comprise a first quantity of tribenzylamine.
114. The method of claim 108 wherein said first conditions comprise a first quantity of tribenzylamine.
115. The method of claim 106 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
116. The method of claim 112 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
117. The method of claim 113 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, dine, and combinations thereof.
118. The method of claim 114 wherein said second conditions comprise a concentration of catalyst selected from the group consisting of pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and combinations thereof.
119. The method of claim 106 wherein said reaction product has a viscosity at from about 20° C. to about 40° C. of from about 50 to about 100 Poise.
120. The method of claim 118 wherein said reaction product has a viscosity at from about 20° C. to about 40° C. of from about 50 to about 100 Poise.
121. The method of claim 106 wherein said polymerizable mesogens comprise the following structure:
wherein
n is from 1 to 5;
R 2 is said bulky organic group;
R 1 and R 3 are selected from groups less bulky than R 2 ; and,
R 14 independently is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, provided that said substituted alkyl groups consist essentially of one or fewer methyl substituents;
R 13 independently is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms.
122. The method of claim 121 further comprising extracting monomers wherein n is 1 from said reaction product, said reaction product having a first nematic to isotropic transition temperature (T n->isotropic ), said extracting being continued to achieve a extraction product having a final T n->isotropic that is greater than said first T n->isotropic .
123. The method of claim 106 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
124. The method of claim 121 wherein said reaction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.
125. The method of claim 122 wherein said extraction product has a curing temperature (T c ) of from about 20° C. to about 40° C.