A recently revisited biobased styrenic monomer, acetyl-protected 4-vinylguaiacol (AC4VG), was used for the synthesis of partially biobased, functional core–shell polymers. P(S-co-BA)@PAC4VG and PBA@PAC4VG latex particles with a PAC4VG shell were prepared using a two-step seeded radical emulsion polymerization process. (281 characters)