A new methacrylic monomer, 4-(2-thiazolylazo)phenylmethacrylate (TPMA) was synthesized. Copolymerization of the monomer with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out by free radical polymerization in THF solution at 70 +/- 0.5 degrees C, using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The monomer TPMA and the copolymer poly(TPMA-co-MMA) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and elemental analysis methods. The polydispersity index of the copolymer was determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the copolymer performed in nitrogen revealed that the copolymer was stable to 270 degrees C. The glass transition temperature (T,,) of the copolymer was higher than that of PMMA. The copolymer with a pendent aromatic heterocyclic group can be dissolved in common organic solvents and shows a good film-forming ability. Both the monomer TPMA and the copolymer poly (TPMA-co-MMA) have bright colors: orange and yellow, respectively. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103:2152-2157,2007