The diffusion of He, Ar, O-2, N-2, CO2, CH4, CH3CH3 and CH2CH2 has been determined in three polymethacrylates with one, two and three oxyethylene units as side chains. For these three rubbery polymers we have used the acronyms PEEMA, PDEMA and PTEMA, respectively. The results have been compared to those of poly(ethyl methacrylate) on one hand, and on the other with previous results on methacrylates of varying length alkyl side chains. It has been found that the oxyethylene units side chains methacrylates show diffusion coefficients which are slightly lower than those methacrylates bearing alkyl side chain, when comparing polymers with the same number of atoms in the side chain. These diffusion data are put in relation to relevant structural features such as the glass transition temperature and the fractional free volume of both families of rubbery methacrylates. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.