Liquid crystalline copolymer

Claim 1

A liquid crystalline polymer obtained by in-situ photopolymerization of at least one polymerizable reactive liquid crystal compound selected from a) compounds of formula Ia, ##STR50## wherein ##STR51## with W being H, Cl or alkyl with 1-5 C atoms P is alkylene with up to 12 C atoms, it being possible for one or more non adjacent CH 2 groups to be replaced by --O--, X is --O--, --S--, --COO--, --OCO, --C.tbd.C-- or a single bond, R 2 is an achiral alkyl radical with up to 15 C atoms, it being possible for one or more CH 2 groups to be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, OCO--, COO--, --O--CO--O-- in such a manner that oxygen atoms are not linked directly to one another, or alternatively R 2 has one of the meanings given for R 1 -P-X-, Z 2 is --CH 2 CH 2 -- or a single bond, ##STR52## it being possible for these rings to be substituted by CN or halogen, ##STR53## b) compounds of formula Ib, ##STR54## wherein R 1 , R 2 , P, and X have the meaning given, L o is fluorine or chlorine, Z 2 is --CH 2 CH 2 -- or a single bond, or in the case that L o is Cl, Z 2 denotes also --O--CO--, ##STR55## denotes a 4, 4-biphenyldiyl group being optionally substituted by a fluorine or chlorine atoms (L o ), and p is 0 or an integer between 1 and 4, c) compounds of formula IIa ##STR56## wherein R 1 , P, X and p have the meaning given, Z 4 is --CH 2 CH 2 -- or a single bond, Q is --CF 2 , --OCF 2 , --C 2 F 4 or --OC 2 F 4 or a single bond, if Y 1 is F or Cl, Y 1 is H, F, or Cl d) compounds of formula IIb ##STR57## wherein R 1 , P, X, Q, Y 1 and p have the meaning given, and q and r are each independently 0 or an integer selected from 1 to 4 and wherein R 2 cannot be a chiral group.