Anisotropic synthesis synthetic techniques

In the preceding chapters the synthesis properties of linear liquid crystalline polymers are described, where different approaches exist to obtain the liquid crystalline state rod-like or disc-like mesogenic units are either incorporated in the polymer backbone or are attached as side groups to the monomer units of the main chain. Following conventional synthetic techniques these linear polymers can be converted to polymer networks. Compared to low molar mass liquid crystals and linear liquid crystalline polymers, these liquid crystalline elastomers exhibit exceptional new physical and material properties due to the combination and interaction of polymer network elasticity with the anisotropic liquid crystalline state. 

Controlled polymerization techniques have enabled the preparation of well-defined polyelectrolytes of different architectures. Polyelectrolyte stars and cylindrical brushes are two typical examples with isotropic and anisotropic nature, respectively. Different synthetic strategies have been developed for these polyelectrolytes. However, the core first and grafting from strategies have turned out to be the most suitable methods for the synthesis of polyelectrolyte stars and cylindrical brushes. 

---