Liquid-crystalline polymer

A liquid crystalline polymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing at least one polyfunctional aromatic monomer selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the general formulae (I), (II) and (III) below:

• wherein Z represents —NH—A—NH— or —O—A′—O—, wherein A and A′ is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group of 1-20 carbon atoms which may have a heterocyclic moiety, or a heterocyclic group;
• R and R′ may be the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group of 1-20 carbon atoms;
• Y and Y′ may be the same or different and each represents a hydroxy group or a reactive derivative thereof;
• Q and Q′ each represents an optionally branched alkyl or alkoxy group of 1-6 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a nitroso group;
• and
• m and m′ each represents an integer of 0-3
• wherein X represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group of 1-20 carbon atoms which may have a heterocyclic moiety, or a heterocyclic group;
• R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group of 1-20 carbon atoms;
• Q and Q′ each represents an optionally branched alkyl or alkoxy group of 1-6 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a nitro group or a nitroso group;
• and
• m and m′ each represents an integer of 0-3;
• with at least one polymerizable monomer.