Vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC) derivatives bearing aromatic moieties were prepared by the catalyzed addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) to butadiene monoxide (BMO) derivatives. The radical polymerization of the VEC monomers was carried out in bulk and solution by using a radical initiator, and those produced polymers were analyzed in detail by IR, NMR, and MALDI-TOF mass methods. These results indicated that radical polymerization of VEC derivatives proceeded through the selective vinyl fashion without depending on the substituents and solvents. Furthermore, the chain transfer reaction occurred easily in NMP and the produced polymer had the NMP moiety in the polymer terminal. The radical polymerization of the bifunctional monomer also proceeded through the vinyl fashion together with the chain transfer reaction in NMP and produced the gelation polymer. Electron-withdrawing of the substituents influenced the thermal property of the produced polymer and bifunctional polymer also obtained the high thermal stability than monofunctional polymer. In this report, the polymerization behavior and property of VEC derivatives bearing aromatic groups was summarized systematically. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.