Liquid-crystalline copolymer

Claim 2

A liquid-crystalline copolymer comprising the copolymerized units of; (a) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound having a helical structure and (b) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound having a helical structure opposite in twining direction of helix to the helical structure of the liquid-crystalline epoxy compound (a) or (c) at least one non-liquid-crystalline epoxy compound.

Claim 3

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 1 which is the copolymerization product of; (a) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound which has a helical structure and is represented by the following general formula (1) and (b) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound which has a helical structure opposite in twining direction of helix to the helical structure of the liquid-crystalline epoxy compound (a) and is represented by the following general formula (2), the copolymerization product comprising at least one repeating unit represented by the following general formula (3) and at least one repeating unit represented by the following general formula (4), wherein the molar ratio of the repeating unit (3) to the repeating unit (4) is from 99:1 to 1:99; wherein R 1 and R 5 are different from each other and each independently are a group represented by (CH 2 ) k OR 3 , wherein k is an integer having a value of from 1 to 30, R 3 is a group represented by -A p -X-B q -R 4 , wherein X is a single bond, -COO- or -OCO-, p and q each independently are an integer having a value of 1 or 2, a and b each independently being an integer having a value of from 0 to 4 and being identical with or different from each other, each Y being a halogen atom and being identical with or different from the others, A and B are identical with or different from each other, and R 4 is -COOR 5 , -OCOR S or -OR 5 , wherein R 5 is R 6 and R 7 each independently being -CH 3 , a halogen atom, -CN or -CF 3 , r and t each independently being an integer having a value of from 0 to 10, with the proviso that t is not 0 when R 7 is -CH 3 , s being an integer of 0 or 1 and C marked with is an asymmetric carbon atom.

Claim 4

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2, wherein k is an integer having a value of from 4 to 16.

Claim 5

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein each R 3 independently is or

Claim 6

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 4, wherein each R 5 independently is

Claim 7

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein R 4 in R 1 is and R 4 in R 2 is t being an integer having a value of 2 to 5.

Claim 8

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein R 4 in R 1 is and R 4 in R 2 is t being an integer having a value of from 3 to 5.

Claim 9

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2, wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently are or

Claim 10

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2, wherein R 1 is and R 2 is

Claim 11

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 2, wherein R I is and R 2 is

Claim 12

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 1 which is the copolymerization product of; (a) at least one liquid-crystalline epoxy compound which has a helical structure and is represented by the following general formula (1) and (c) at least one non-liquid-crystalline epoxy compound represented by the following general formula (5), the copolymerization product comprising at least one repeating unit represented by the following general formula (3) and at least one repeating unit represented by the following general formula (6), wherein the molar ratio of the repeating unit (3) to the repeating unit (6) is from 99:1 to 10:90; wherein R' is a group represented by -(CH 2 ) k -OR 3 , wherein k is an integer having a value of from 1 to 30, R 3 is a group represented by -A p -X-B q -R 4 , wherein X is a single bond, -COO- or -OCO-, p and q each independently are an integer having a value of 1 or 2, a and b each independently being an integer having a value of from 0 to 4 and being identical with or different from each other, each Y being a halogen atom and being identical with or different from the others, A and B are identical with or different from each other, and R4 is -COOR 5 , -OCOR 5 or -O R S, wherein R 5 is R 6 and R 7 each independently being -CH 3 , a halogen atom, -CN or -CF 3 , r and t each independently being an integer having a value of from 0 to 10, with the proviso that t is not 0 when R 7 is CH 3 , s being an integer of 0 or 1, and C marked with *being an asymmetric carbon atom; and R 8 is -H or a group represented by -(CH 2 ) u CH 3 , u being an integer having a value of from 0 to 9.

Claim 13

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 11, wherein k is an integer having a value of from 4 to 16.

Claim 14

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein R 3 is or

Claim 15

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 13, wherein R 5 is

Claim 16

The liquid-crystalline copolymer as claimed in claim 11, wherein R 1 is or