Various copolymers of glycidol with phenyl-containing comonomers (glycidyl 2-methylphenyl ether, 2-biphenylyl glycidyl ether, 4-tert-butylphenyl glycidyl ether, methoxyphenyl glycidyl ether, and p-nitrophenyl glycidyl ether) were synthesized by cationic ring-opening polymerization, for possible use as nanoparticle coatings. The copolymerization involving p-nitrophenyl glycidyl ether produced p-nitrophenol as a byproduct. The copolymers were found to have relatively low average molecular weights and high polydispersities, with glass-transition temperatures in the - 20 to + 10 degrees C range (approximately). (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.