The present invention provides a novel compound for optical materials, and a curable composition, a cured body and an optical article containing the compound for optical materials. According to an embodiment, there is provided a compound for optical materials represented by Formula (Ia) below: ##STR00001##
In Formula (Ia), X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each NH, S, or O. R.sup.1 is a 1- to 30-valent organic residue. R.sup.3 is a group composed of a polymer having a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.mO, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O), (CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O), (C(O)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (C(O)OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), and (C(O)OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), a random copolymer having at least two repeating units selected from the group, or a block copolymer having at least two repeating units selected from the group.

The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a method for preparing a reaction product, comprising (1) molten mixing a first active hydrogen containing component and a first alkali hydroxide to form a first mixture; (2) adding water into the first mixture to dissolve the first molten alkali hydroxide to form a second mixture; (3) reacting a first hydrophobic component with the second mixture to provide a Diluent; (4) molten mixing at least one second active hydrogen containing component, a second alkali hydroxide and the Diluent to form a third mixture; (5) adding water into the third mixture to dissolve the second molten alkali hydroxide to form a fourth mixture; and (6) reacting the fourth mixture with a gem-polyhalide compound or a sulfonate ester for a sufficient time to form the reaction product. Also, disclosed is a water soluble or dispersible composition comprising a diluent and a polymer.