Amorphous polymers, including homopolymers and co-polymers, containing residues of vinyl cyclohexane and/or substituted vinyl cyclohexane are described. The polymers of the present invention have a syndiotactic configuration in which the quantity of diads is greater than 50.1% and less than 74%. The polymers of the invention have high transparency, low birefringence and high heat defection temperature, and can be used to prepare molded articles (e.g., optical data storage media and lenses) and films.