Metal salts of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-phthalate [M(HEEP)(2)] (M = Ca2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) were synthesized by the reaction of diethylene glycol, phthalic anhydride, and metal acetates. A series of metal-containing polyurethanes (PUs) were synthesized by the reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate or tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate with Ca2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ salts of mono(hydroxyethoxy-ethyl)phthalate using di-n-butyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The PUs were well characterized by FTIR, H-1, and C-13 NMR, solid-state C-13-CP-MAS NMR, viscosity, solubility, elemental, and X-ray diffraction studies. Thermal properties of the polymers were also studied by using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The antibacterial activities of these polyurethanes have also been investigated by using the agar diffusion method. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.