Poly(vinylbenzyl abietate) (polyVBA) was synthesized by the polymer reaction of poly(vinylbenzl chloride) (polyVBC) with sodium abietate in chlorobenzene. The conversion of polyVBC into polyVBA was very high. The glass transition temperature and initial thermal decomposition temperature of polyVBA were about 122 degreesC and 418 degreesC, respectively. PolyVBA in the film state was found to be crosslinkable via photodimerization of the conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds of the abietic acid moieties.