Poly(styrene-co-acryloyl chloride) prepared from poly(styrene-co-p-nitrophenylacrylate), crosslinked with divinylbenzene, readily reacted with N, O, S and C nucleophiles resulting in amido, hydrazido, ester, thioester and malononitryl derivatives of poly(styrene-co-acryloyl chloride). All the introduced reagents (1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, thiophenol, 3-fluoroaniline, 4-chloroaniline, 3,4-dichloroaniline, 2-aminobenzimidazole, phenylhydrazine and malononitrile) reacted under mild conditions (room temperature). No additional crosslinking was observed during processes with hydrazine or amines. Scavenging abilities of crosslinked poly (styrene-co-acryloyl chloride) and crosslinked poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) were demonstrated by scavenging benzylamine, which was removed from the solution at room temperature, reaction being faster with supported acid chloride. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.