Telechelic oligomers with dialdehyde end groups and 2,3-dihydroxypropan-1-methacrylate acetonide repeat units were prepared by the ozonolytic cleavage of poly(2,3-dihydroxypropan-l-methacrylate acetonide-stat-butadiene) copolymers. The latter were prepared by monomer starve-fed emulsion polymerization at elevated temperatures and at atmospheric pressure. In contrast to similar copolymerizations of methyl and butyl methacrylate these polymerizations generated a gel fraction as well as the usual soluble copolymer. However, following ozonolysis and work up with dimethyl sulphide the whole reaction mixture became soluble. Impurities derived from oligomers with carboxylic acid end groups were removed by preparative ion exchange with a strong base ion exchange resin. The oligomers have potential applications as components of amphiphilic networks. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.