Alkaloid monomers, liquid crystal compositions and polymer networks derived therefrom

A compound as represented by the structure of the following formula (I):

• D-S1—(B—S2)m-(A1S3)n—Rp (I)
• wherein
• D is a chiral moiety (D1) or (D2) derived, by formal removal of a hydroxyl group, from the alkaloids selected from the group consisting of (−) cinchonidine, CAS [485-71-2];
• (+)-cinchonine, CAS [118-10-5];
• quinine, CAS [130-95-0] and quinidine, CAS [56-54-2];
• and their dihydro-derivatives:
• X is hydrogen or —OCH3;
• R is —CH═CH2 or —CH2CH3;
• S1 is a linking group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —OC(O)—, OC(O)NH and —OC(O)O—;
• S2 and S3 are linking groups each independently selected from the group consisting of, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, OC(O)O, —OC(O)NR1—, —NR1C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, and —C(O)S—;
• R1 is hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl;
• each B is a divalent radical independently selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and aromatic carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups having 1 to 16 carbon atoms;
• optionally having one or more fused rings and optionally mono- or polysubstituted with L;
• L is selected from the group consisting of the substitutents F, Cl, —CN, and —NO2;
• and alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl groups, having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, wherein one or more of the carbon atoms are optionally substituted with F or Cl;
• A1 is a divalent linear or branched alkyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally interrupted by linking groups selected from the group O, —S—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)— and —C(O)O—;
• Rp is a polymerizable group;
• m is an integer of 1 or 2;
• and
• n is an integer of 0 or 1.