The invention provides a novel soluble polyfunctional (methyl)
acrylate copolymer, and a curable resin composition using the
copolymer with excellent optical characteristics such as low dispersion, high light
transmittance, and various balance characteristics required by an optical lens /
prism material; no generation of
branch of
refractive index, and maintenance of high optical properties even though in a rigorous practical using condition such as
damp heat condition. The
copolymer is obtained by copolymerizing single functional (methyl)
acrylate (a), dual functional (methyl)
acrylate (b), 2, 4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-
pentene (c) and a
thiol compound (d), wherein the
side chain of the copolymer comprises a reactive (methyl) acrylate group from the dual functional (methyl) acrylate (b), the end comprises structural units from the 2, 4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-
pentene (c) and the
thiol compound (d). The curable resin composition contains the copolymer.