Cyclic olefin compound, photoreactive polymer, and alignment layer comprising the same

#This application is a Utility Application and claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2010-0093180, filed on Sep. 27, 2010, and 10-2011-0054322, filed on Jun. 7, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

#The present invention relates to a cyclic olefin compound, a photoreactive polymer, and an alignment layer comprising the same and, more particularly, to a cyclic olefin compound, a photoreactive polymer, a preparation method for the same, and an alignment layer comprising the photoreactive polymer, where the cyclic olefin compound can be used to provide the photoreactive polymer having not only excellences in liquid crystal alignment and alignment rate but also readiness for change in the alignment direction depending on the polarization direction.

#With a recent advent of large-sized LCDs and a gradual expansion of their usage from portable devices, such as mobile phones, lap-top computers, etc., to home appliances, such as wall mounted flat panel TVs, there is a demand for LCDs with high definition and wide viewing angle. In particular, TFT-driven thin film transistor LCDs (TFT-LCDs) of which each pixel is independently driven are much superior in response speed of liquid crystals, realizing high-definition motion pictures, and thus increasingly used in a wider range of applications.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary structure of a general alignment layer.

#FIG. 2 shows photographs of alignment layers using the polymers of Comparative Example and Example in experimental examples after first and second alignments achieved by changing the polarization direction.

#FIG. 3 show graphs describing the change of anisotropy of alignment layers using the polymers of Comparative Examples and Examples in experimental examples after first and second alignments achieved by changing the polarization direction.

#Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given as to a cyclic olefin compound, a photoreactive polymer, a preparation method for the same, and an alignment layer according to the embodiments of the invention.

#In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cyclic olefin compound having a photoreactive group as represented by the following formula 1:

#In the formula 1, q is an integer from 0 to 4; and at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is any one selected from the group consisting of radicals of the following formula 1a and 1b. Among the R1 to R4, the remainders other than the radical of the formula 1a or 1b are the same as or different from one another and independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; halogen; substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkenyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms; substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkynyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms; substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms; substituted or unsubstituted aryl having 6 to 40 carbon atoms; and a polar functional group comprising at least one of oxygen, nitrogen, phosphor, sulfur, silicon, and boron. When the R1 to R4 are not hydrogen, halogen, or a polar functional group, at least one of a R1 and R2 coordination and a R3 and R4 coordination is bonded to each other to form an alkylidene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; or R1 or R2 is bonded to either R3 or R4 to form a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic ring having 4 to 12 carbon atoms or an aromatic ring having 6 to 24 carbon atoms.