A series of new photosensitive polymers have been synthesized by polycondensation reaction of 2,2-bis{3-amino-4-[(p-oxyhexyloxy-p'-butoxy)azobenzene]-phenylene}-hexafluoropropane or 2,2-bis{3-amino-4-[(p-oxybutyloxy-p'-phenyl)azobenzene]-phenylene}-hexafluoropropane with hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride or with a diacid chloride containing hexafluoroisopropylidene or dimethylsilane groups. These amorphous polymers have good solubility in organic solvents and good film-forming properties. The irradiation of polymer films with linearly polarized visible light causes a reorientation of the azobenzene groups by angular-selective E/Z photoisomerization. Thus, optical anisotropy is induced in the initially isotropic films. The photoinduced dichroism in the films was measured and the results are discussed with respect to the polymer structure.
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