| Abstract: | Aryloxycarbonylphenyl acrylates and methacrylates were prepared by reacting 4‐acryloyloxybenzoyl chloride and 4‐methacryloyloxybenzoyl chloride with different phenols. They were homopolymerized using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator at 65°C in dimethylformamide. The polymers were characterized by IR and 1H–NMR spectra and size exclusion chromatography. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy studies revealed that the phenyl esters of poly(4‐acryloyloxybenzoic acid) and poly(4‐methacryloyloxybenzoic acid) did not show any liquid crystalline properties, but, the para‐aryl–substituted phenyl esters did exhibit mesophase properties in the temperature range of 98–265°C depending on the nature of the aryl substituent. Polymethacrylates exhibit higher Tg, and lower Tm and Ti than the polyacrylates having the same pendant mesogen. Thermogravimetric analyses have shown that the initial decomposition temperatures of the polymers are above 230°C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 465–474, 2000 |
