To obtain new polymer latices based on sugar derivative, batch emulsion copolymerizations of 3-O-methaeryloyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glueofuranose (3-MDG) and n-butyl acrylate (BA) were carried out at 70 degreesC, with potassium persulfate as the initiator. 3-MDG polymerizes faster than BA because of its higher reactivity ratio, r((3-MDG)) 1.94 versus r((BA)) 0.54. The effect of the initial monomer composition on the polymerization rate and the thermal properties of the end copolymers was investigated. The overall rate of polymerization increases by enhancing the sugar content in the initial monomer composition. The glass-transition temperature is linearly related to the sugar content in the copolymer. The influence of the type of surfactant showed that the particle size increases by changing from ionic to nonionic surfactant. Furthermore, the effect of the added acrylic acid (AA) on the rheological properties suggests that the sugar latices exhibit different non-Newtonian flows depending on the pH of the latex and on the AA concentration on the particle surface. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 788-803, 2003.