In order to study the photoreactivity and the optical properties of liquid crystalline copolymers with multiple photochromic groups, a series of novel liquid crystalline binary and ternary polyacrylates consisting of one (C=C OF N=N) or dual (C=C and N=N) photochromic segments were synthesized and characterized considering their liquid crystalline, optical, and photochromic properties and their thermal stability. Achiral homopolymer PI shows a smectic A phase (fan-shaped texture), and all chiral copolymers CP1-CP6 exhibit chiral nematic phases (cholesteric, oily streaks textures). The polymers show excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, toluene, and THE These polymers also exhibit good thermal stability, with decomposition temperatures (TdS) greater than 373 degrees C at 5% weight loss, and beyond 440 degrees C at 50% weight loss under nitrogen atmosphere. UV irradiation caused E/Z photoisomerization at N=N and C=C segments of the synthesized photochromic copolymers leading to reversible and irreversible isomerizations, respectively. The synthesized liquid crystalline ternary copolymer CP6, containing two different photochromic N=N and C=C groups, is sensitive to different UV wavelengths and is notably interesting from the viewpoint of photochromic copolymers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.