An efficient and versatile synthesis of a series of polymerizable amphiphilic mesogens that affords control over tail length and position of the polymerizable group is described. The synthesis employs a novel and facile method of preparing styrene ethers. The monomers are sodium salts of styrene ether-modified fatty acids that can be used to form cross-linkable inverted hexagonal (HII) lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) phases at ambient temperature with ...