Macroreticular glycidyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (GMA-EGDM) copolymers of controlled particle size were synthesized by suspension polymerization. The copolymer beads were derivatized to incorporate di- and tetracarboxylic acid functionalities. Vanadium (V) ion was chelated on the modified copolymers. The vanadium chelated copolymers were used in combination with cyclohexanone as redox reagent for the free radical polymerization of acrylamide at 30 degrees C. The molecular weights of the polyacrylamide were significantly higher than that prepared by a soluble vanadium (V) ion - cyclohexanone homogeneous redox initiator pair.