Polymers, particularly those used in pressure-sensitive adhesives, are prepared from a mixture of structural isomers of a secondary alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer. The mixture is made by dehydrating a biobased C2-C22 alcohol with a first acid catalyst using a continuous process to form a mixture of olefins, and reacting (meth)acrylic acid with at least some of the mixture of olefins in the presence of a second acid catalyst. The adhesives are characterized by exhibiting an overall balance of adhesive and cohesive characteristics, and containing biobased material.