Abstract: A new series of mesogenic monomers and polymers with three benzene rings linked by ester bond are synthesized for the first time by the means of radical polymerization.In this type of liquid crystal polymers, rigid mesogens are directly fixed onto the main chain backbone of polyacrylic ester vertically without flexible spacer, The glass transition temperatures of these polymers are very high and indicate the high rigidities of these polymers.The liquid crystalline behaviour of the monomers and polymers are characterized by DSC, polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction.It is found that all monomers and polymers are nematic thermotropic liquid crystals.Therefore, they represented a new kind of rigid side chain liquid crystal polymers.

Key words: Mesogenic monomer, Rigid side chain liquid crystal polymers, 4-[4'-(p-Alkoxylbenzoxy)-benzoxy]-phenyl-acrylate