Two multifunctional aliphatic urethane acrylates, based on isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), beta-hydroxyethyl arcylate (HEA), and synthetic multifunctional hydroxyl Compounds, were synthesized by classical condensation reaction. FTIR was used to monitor the process of the reaction. The photopolymerization kinetics of the urethane acrylates with different photoinitiators was studied by real-time infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that compared with the commercial hexa-functional urethane acrylate CN 9010, the synthetic multifunctional urethane acrylates could be initiated by benzophenone more efficiently without the addition of any coinitiators because they have tertiary amine structures. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 896-900,2009