| abstract |
A photoactive polymer of the general formula I:in which:P is a photoactive group which can photoisomerise and/or photodimerise;B represents an aromatic or alicyclic group, or B further represents a nitrogen atom or -CR<2>-;A, C, D each independently of the other represents an aromatic or alicyclic group;M represents a repeating monomer unit in a homo- or copolymer;S<1>, S<2>, S<3>, S<4>, S<5 >represent a single covalent bond or a spacer unit;n<1>, n<2 >are each independently a positive integer up to 2 with the proviso that n<1>+n<2><=2;R<1 >is a hydrogen atom, or a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue wherein R<2 >represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl.The photoactive polymers may be used as orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems. |