Acrylate and methacrylate monomers with the photodimerizable a,p-unsaturated ketone moiety, such as 4-cinnamoylphenyl, 4-(4-methoxycinnamoyl)phenyl, 4-(4-nitrocinnamoyl)phenyl, or 4-(4-chlorocinnamoyl)phenyl, were prepared and homopolymerized using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator at 70 degrees C in methyl ethyl ketone. The poly(meth)acrylates were characterized by ultraviolet, infrared, H-1-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and C-13-NMR spectra, and gel permeation chromatography. Their thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetric analyses in air and nitrogen, and differential scanning calorimetry. The photocrosslinking properties of the polymers were investigated as thin films and in solution in the presence and absence of sensitizer.