2-(N-Phthalimido)ethyl acrylate was prepared by the reaction of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phthalimide with acrylic acid in the presence of N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The exchange reactions of the resulting polymer with hydroxy and amino compounds have been studied. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 2258-2262, 2006