Synthesis of optically active photoresponsive multifunctional polymer containing the side-chain azocarbazole chromophore

A new optically active photochromic polymethacrylate containing the carbazole moiety, deriving from the chiral monomer (S)-(4-cyanophenyl)-[3-[9-[2-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy) ethyl]carbazolyl]]diazene [(S)-MLECA] has been prepared and fully characterized with the aim to obtain a multifunctional derivative possessing at the same time chemical moieties suitable to NLO and optical storage, to chiroptical switches, and to photorefractive and photoconductive applications. Spectroscopic, thermal and chiroptical characterizations clearly indicate the occurrence of dipolar interactions between chromophores and the presence of an ordered chiral conformation of one prevailing helical handedness, at least for chain segments of the macromolecules.