A new family of cycloaliphatic fused-ring acrylic polymers based on 8-hydroxymethyltricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decane (TCD) has been synthesized by free-radical polymerization. TCD-methacrylate (TCD-MA) was synthesized by reacting TCD with methacrylic acid in toluene via transesterification with p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. TCDMA was polymerized in toluene with benzoyl peroxide as a free-radical initiator at 80 C. Copolymers were synthesized by polymerizing TCDMA with styrene and methyl methacrylate. The composition of the comonomers was varied from 0 to 100%. Homo- and copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. Molecular weight determination by gel permeation chromatography showed that the polymers were obtained in very high molecular weights in the range of M-n > 50,000 and M-w > 80,000 with relatively low polydispersity. The composition analysis of both the copolymer series were determined by H-1 NMR. The thermal properties of the homo- and copolymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry and all the polymers were found to be amorphous. 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.