Soluble polymer ligands possessing aryl monosulfide side chains [poly(4-vinylphenylmethyl sulfide) (PVPMS)], alkyl monosulfide side chains [poly(4-vinylbenzylmethyl sulfide) (PVBMS)] and branched tetrasulfide side chains [poly(7-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)-2,5,9,12-tetrathiatridecane) (PTeSSD)] were prepared by radical polymerization of the corresponding monomers. These polymer ligands had specific binding abilities for soft acids only, such as Ag(I) and Hg(II) ions. The tetrasulfide-type polymer ligand, PTeSSD, bound the metal ion only by the tetrasulfide side chain itself. The monosulfide-type polymer ligands, PVPMS and PVBMS, bound the metal ion by co-operative interaction between their monosulfide side chains. The resulting polymer-Ag(I) complexes were soluble in organic solvents. Interestingly, a polyester cloth coated with the polymer-Ag(I) complex exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.