Aryloxycarbonylphenyl acrylates and methacrylates were prepared by reacting 4-acryloyloxybenzoyl chloride and 4-methacryloyloxybenzoyl chloride with different phenols. They were homopolymerized using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator at 65 degrees C in dimethylformamide. The polymers were characterized by IR and H-1-NMR spectra and size exclusion chromatography. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy studies revealed that the phenyl esters of poly(4-acryloyloxybenzoic acid) and poly(4-methacryloyloxybenzoic acid) did not show any liquid crystalline properties, but, the para-aryl-substituted phenyl esters did exhibit mesophase properties in the temperature range of 98-265 degrees C depending on the nature of the aryl substituent. Polymethacrylates exhibit higher T-g, and lower T-m and T-i than the polyacrylates having the same pendant mesogen. Thermogravimetric analyses have shown that the initial decomposition temperatures of the polymers are above 230 degrees C.