Side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polysalts. Synthesis and thermal properties of poly{1‐[ω‐(4′‐methoxy‐4‐biphenylyloxy)alkyl]‐4‐vinylpyridinium bromide} or poly[1‐(2‐{2‐[2‐(4′‐methoxy‐4‐biphenylyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethyl)‐4‐vinylpyridinium bromide]

The synthesis and thermal properties of a new type of side‐chain liquid‐crystalline polymers, incorporating ionic groups, are described. The polymers are obtained upon spontaneous polymerization (simultaneous quaternization and polymerization) of 4‐vinylpyridine in the presence of ω‐(4′‐methoxy‐4‐biphenylyloxy)alkyl or 2‐{2‐[2‐(4′‐methoxy‐4‐biphenylyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}‐ethyl bromide. Fully quaternized polymers of high molecular weight are obtained. As the analogous low‐molecular‐weight molecules previously studied these polymers form smectic mesophases, although the mesogenic groups, which include the pyridinium rings, are directly connected to the polyvinylic backbone.