A light-sensitive composition comprising novel arylglyoxyalkyl acrylates that exhibits useful light sensitivity. The basic structure of the new compositions, which may also themselves be polymerized are as follows: ##STR1## wherein Ar represents an aromatic structure selected from the group consisting of benzene, naphthalene and substituted products of each, R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having from one to ten carbon atoms, R.sub.2 represents a grouping selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, or a lower alkyl group having from one to five carbon atoms and R.sub.3 represents an alkenyl group having from one to ten carbon atoms and singular unsaturation. The light-sensitive compositions may themselves be utilized in photochemistry as photopolymers, they may be combined with suitable solvents and additives or polymerized with suitable backbone polymers to provide substances which can be used as light-sensitive coatings. These coatings may be placed on substrates and in one instance as presensitized lithographic plates.