Different 4'-substituted 4-[N-ethyl-N-(2-acryloyloxy)ethyl]aminoazobenzenes were used as starting monomers for homopolymerization and copolymerization reactions with styrene and methyl methacrylate. The photofading behaviour of the obtained polymeric azo dyes (M, 4200-9000) was investigated by means of a Xenotest device and compared with that of the corresponding monomers. The decreased photostability * Correspondence author. a Part I cf.'. 0 1992 Hiithig & Wepf Verlag, Basel CCC 0003-3 146/92/$05.00