Preparation and characterization of porous polymeric microspheres obtained from multifunctional methacrylate monomers

Synthesis and properties of the new difunctional methacrylate monomer 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxybenzene are presented. This monomer was applied for the synthesis of porous microspheres. It was copolymerized with trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate in the presence of two pairs of pore‐forming diluents dodecane and toluene, and n‐decanol and toluene. Influence of diluents composition on their porous structures was studied. Thermal resistance and tendency to swell in different organic diluents for a chosen sample were also determined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6165–6174, 2008