Photolysis of o-methylphenyl ketones generates o-quinodimethane intermediates that can be trapped in situ by dienophiles through Diels-Alder cycloadditions. This well-known photochemical process is applied to a series of six new photoreactive monomers containing bis(o-methylphenyl ketone) functionalities combined with diacrylate and triacrylate esters for the development of acrylic ester copolymer blends. Irradiation of cyclohexanone solutions of the bis(o-methylphenyl ketone)s and acrylate esters produce thin polymer films. Solid state C-13 NMR data indicated 47-100% reaction of the bis(o-methylphenyl ketone)s, depending on experimental conditions, to yield the desired products. DSC and TGA analyses were performed to determine the glass transition temperature, T-g, and onset of decomposition, T-d, of the resulting polymer films. A statistical "design of experiments" approach was used to obtain a systematic understanding of the effects of experimental variables on the extent of polymerization and the final polymer properties.