A phase polymorphism NSAdI in liquid-crystalline polymethacrylates with 4′-trifluoromethoxyazobenzene mesogenic side groups

The mesophase behaviour of liquid‐crystalline polymethacrylates with 4′‐trifluoromethoxyazobenzene mesogens and alkylene spacers \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \left( {\rlap{--} ({\rm CH}_{\rm 2} \rlap{--} )_n ,n = 2 - 6} \right) $\end{document} in the side chains was investigated and compared with that of the corresponding non‐fluorinated polymers. The fluorinated polymers with spacer lengths n = 5 and 6 are the first side‐group liquid‐crystalline polymethacrylates showing a nematic phase below a smectic A phase.