Abstract: A class of polyamides comprising recurring units having certain substituted-biphenylene or substituted-stilbene radicals is disclosed. The substituted radicals include substituents so as to confer a non-coplanar molecular configuration and a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of the recurring units and the chain-extended polymers including such radicals.Molecularly oriented polymers of the invention exhibit optically uniaxial properties. The highly birefringent polymers are suited to application in optical filter and other devices where a refractive and birefringent material is desired.

Abstract: Optical devices including a molecularly oriented highly birefringent polymer are disclosed. The devices include molecularly oriented polymers comprising recurring units which exhibit a distribution of high electron density about the long axes of the polymer and the recurring units thereof. Transparent birefringent polymers comprising a plurality of recurring units having a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of such units and the chain-extended polymers are included in optical devices and articles. The polymers exhibit high birefringence and simulate in a polymer the optical properties of a uniaxial crystal.

Abstract: A class of polyesters comprising recurring units having certain bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenylene radicals is disclosed. The polyesters exhibit favorable solubility properties in certain organic solvents so as to facilitate the production of the polyesters via polycondensation methods to film- and fiber-forming molecular weights. Monomeric compounds comprising a bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenylene radical and useful for the production of the polyesters are also disclosed.

Abstract: A class of polyamides comprising recurring units having substituted-quaterphenylene radicals is disclosed. The polymers comprise recurring units of the formula ##STR1## wherein each of A and B is a divalent radical, except that B can represent a single bond; R and R.sup.1 are each hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl; and c is zero or one; and wherein, when c is one, at least one of A and B is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical having the formula ##STR2## where each U is a substituent other than hydrogen, each W is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen, each p is an integer from 1 to 3, each X is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen and each r is an integer from 1 to 4, the U, W.sub.p and X.sub.r substitution being sufficient to provide the radical with a non-coplanar molecular configuration; and wherein, when c is zero, A is a substituted-quaterphenylene radical as aforedescribed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a class of polymers comprising recurring units of the formula ##STR1## where Mu is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR2## where each of D, D', E and E' is hydrogen, alkyl or substituted-alkyl; and Az is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR3## where each of R and R' is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl and W is a single bond, alkylene or alkenylene; or Az is a divalent radical having the formula ##STR4## where each of Y and Y' represent the atoms necessary to complete a piperazine or substituted-piperazine radical.Molecularly oriented polymers of the invention exhibit birefringence and can be utilized in filter, polarizing and other optical devices.

Abstract: A class of polyamides comprising recurring units having certain substituted-biphenylene or substituted-stilbene radicals is disclosed. The substituted radicals include substituents so as to confer a non-coplanar molecular configuration and a substantially cylindrical distribution of electron density about the long axis of the recurring units and the chain-extended polymers including such radicals.Molecularly oriented polymers of the invention exhibit optically uniaxial properties. The highly birefringent polymers are suited to application in optical filter and other devices where a refractive and birefringent material is desired.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the use of certain pyridine N-oxides in diffusion transfer products and processes employing dye developers.