A novel polymer having the moiety: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group containing 1-5 carbon atoms or an aryl, substituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, alkyl-aryl, alkylether-aryl or O; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or a methyl group; X is O, NH, NR' wherein R' is an alkyl group containing 1-5 carbon atoms, or O--R" or NR" wherein O--R" is O-alkyl-O or O-alkyl, NR" is O-alkyl-ONH, ##STR2## wherein each instance alkyl contains 1-5 carbon atoms and n is 0 or 1. The compound of this invention is useful as a monomer which can be polymerized and/or copolymerized by catonic polymerization. Polymers and copolymers produced in this invention can be crosslinked and are useful in coatings, inks, overprint varnishes, and surface treatment applications.