Aldehyde groups enable facile conjugation to proteins, enzymes, oligonucleotides or fluorescent dyes, yet there are no literature examples of water-soluble aldehyde-functional vinyl monomers. We report the synthesis a new hydrophilic cis-diol-based methacrylic monomer (GEO5MA) by transesterification isopropylideneglycerol penta(ethylene glycol) using methyl methacrylate followed acetone deprote...