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. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.