The free radical copolymerization of 2-oxo-2-[(4-sulfamoylphenyl) amino]ethyl-2-methylpropenoate (SAEMA) with 4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl-2-methylpropenoate (MCMA) has been carried out in 1, 4-dioxane at 65 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C and the copolymers were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared, H-1-NMR, C-13-NMR and gel permeation chromatography. H-1-NMR and elemental analysis was used to determine the molar fractions of SAEMA and MCMA in the copolymers. The monomer-reactivity ratios were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using Kelen-Tudos and Fineman-Ross linearization methods. The reactivity ratios indicated a tendency toward random copolymerization. The polydispersity indices of the polymers, determined with gel permeation chromatography, suggested a strong tendency for chain termination by disproportionation. The thermal behaviors of copolymers with various compositions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The glass-transition temperature of the copolymers increased with increasing MCMA content in the copolymers. Also, the apparent thermal decomposition activation energies were calculated by the Ozawa method with a Shimadzu TGA 60 thermogravimetric analysis thermobalance. All the products showed moderate activity against different strains of bacteria and fungi. The photochemical properties of the polymers were investigated by UV spectra. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4323-4334, 2010