Synthesis and properties of liquid-crystalline AB-block copolymers poly[6-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenylyloxy)hexyl methacrylate]-block-polystyrene

Liquid-crystalline AB-block copolymers poly[6-(4′-methoxy-4-biphenylyoxy)hexyl methacrylate]-block-polystyrene were synthesized by direct coupling of the homopolymers with functional end groups. Like the liquid-crystalline homopolymer with mesogenic units in the side chain, all block copolymers show a nematic mesophase. The transition temperatures are hardly affected by the composition and molecular weight of the block copolymers.