Synthesis and radical copolymerization of 2-(4-((4-isocyanophenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)ethyl- 3-phenylacrylate with maleic anhydride

Abstract

A monomer containing a photochromic group was synthesized by condensation of 4-(2-hydroxyethyloxy)-4-cyanoazobenzene with cinnamoyl chloride. The structure and composition of the monomer were established by FTIR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The values of chemical shifts, multiplicity, and integrated intensity of 1H signals in one-dimensional NMR spectra of the monomer were determined, and the homo- and heteronuclear interactions were found. The crystal structure of 4-(2-hydroxyethyloxy)-4-cyanoazobenzene was established using X-ray diffraction analysis. A copolymer containing photochromic mesogenic fragment was synthesized by radical copolymerization of 2-(4-((4-isocyanophenyl)diazenyl) phenoxy)ethyl-3-phenylacrylate with maleic anhydride.