A superacidic ester group is useful in the production of ionomers for
polymer electrolyte fuel cells. A polymer is produced from said vinyl
monomer. A process produces a polymer containing a superacidic group. The
vinyl monomer contains a haloalkyl ester group of a superacid, wherein
the number of carbon atoms of the haloalkyl ester group is no more than
10, and the halogen in the haloalkyl group is chlorine and/or fluorine. A
polymer containing said vinyl monomer as a repeating unit can be
converted to a polymer containing a superacid group using at least one
procedure of 1) heat treating at 50.degree.C. to 350.degree.C., and 2)
contacting with a protic compound.