A set of poly(triazinylstyrene)s containing ethylenediamine (PEd1 and PEd2) and pyridine (PAp2) moieties was prepared by the radical polymerization, in which PEd1 and PEd2 were synthesized at the lower temperature to avoid the gel formation. PEd2 having two hydrophilic ethylenediamine side chains could selectively bind copper(II) ion from an aqueous buffer solution containing individual metal(II) sulfate; on the other hand, PEd1 and PAp2 showed a poor chelating ability. Polymer catalysts prepared from copper(II) nitrate were subjected to the oxidation reaction of p-hydroquinone to analyze whether the complex bearing ethylenediamine moiety showed a higher catalytic activity. The activity of the catalyst improved with increasing pH of the reaction media, especially in the catalyst prepared from PEd2. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.