Numerous acrylate monomers have been synthesized and evaluated extensively as a means to explore the relationship between molecular polarity and monomer reactivity. Various monomers, characterized by high values of dipole moment, were polymerized in bulk, and no correlation of dipole moment to monomer reactivity was established. Solution polymerization studies were performed on phenyl carbamate ethyl acrylate and several substituted derivatives to observe the effects of changing solvent polarity on the polymerization kinetics. The results of solution polymerization studies indicated that traditional dilution effects, which suppress the polymerization kinetics, dominate the reactions. Changes in solvent polarity had minimal impact on the polymerization kinetics. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.