The radical copolymerization of a-terpineol with N-vinylpyrrolidone (N-VP) in dioxane at (80 +/- 0.1)degrees C for I h in the presence of benzoylperoxide follows ideal kinetic and results in the formation of random copolymer as evidenced from the value of reactivity ratios as r(1) (N-VP) =0.23 and r(2) (alpha-terpineol) =0.025, which have been calculated by the Kelen-Tudos method. The overall activation energy is computed to be 28 kJ/mol. The FTIR spectrum of the copolymer shows the presence of bands at 3507 cm(-1) due to alcoholic group and 1717 cm(-1) due to > C=O group. The Alfrey-Price parameters for alpha-terpineol has been calculated as 0.024 and -2.66. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 476-481, 2007