A new homologous series of SCLCPs containing the 4-cyanobiphenyl mesogenic group attached to the polymaleimide backbone through paraffinic spacers of two to eight methylene units have been prepared. All the polymers exhibit liquid crystalline behavior; specifically S-Ad- (or S-C-) like and nematic phases are observed. The glass transition temperature decreases from 150 to 43 degrees C on increasing spacer length. The isotropization temperatures exhibit an odd-even effect on varying the length and parity of the spacer, in which the odd members exhibit the higher values. This is attributed to the change in the average shape of the side chain as the parity of spacer is varied. The isotropization temperatures (>300-120 degrees C) and the mesophase thermal stabilities (190-60 degrees C) are high. Comparison is made with polymers containing the same mesogenic group attached to backbones of decreasing rigidity.