Liquid crystallinity of random copolymers of polymethacrylates containing biphenyl moieties synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization

4-(4′-Cyanobiphenyloxy)butyl methacrylate, MA(4OCB), was copolymerized with 8-(4′-hexyloxybiphenyloxy)octyl methacrylate, MA(8O6RB), or butyl methacrylate, MA(Bu), by atom transfer radical polymerization. Phase transition behaviors and liquid crystalline properties of the random copolymers with small polydispersity were compared with those of respective homopolymers. The thermal analysis suggested that both biphenyl mesogens in the p[MA(4OCB)-co-(8O6RB)] random copolymers were oriented together rather than segregated. In the case of the p[MA(4OCB)-co-MA(Bu)] random copolymers, the butyl side-chains worked to diminish liquid crystallinity by disturbing orientation of the biphenyl mesogen due to thermal fluctuation.