Two novel difunctional styrenic monomers - 2,2-bis(4-vinylbenzyl)propane-1,3-diol and 5,5-bis(4-vinylbenzyl)-2-phenyl-[1,3,2] dioxaborinane - were synthesized and copolymerized to test the influence of boron on the properties of materials. They were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, FTIR and H-1, C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The copolymers with boron showed higher thermal stability and char yields than polystyrene or homologous copolymers without boron. The thermal degradation of boron-containing styrenic polymers was studied by FTIR and boric acid was detected at high temperatures. LOI values increase with boron content. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.