The immobilized macromolecular copper catalysts were prepared by modification of nitrile groups in acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate and divinylbenzene terpolymer using aminoguanidine carbonate and subsequent complexation. with copper(II) nitrate. The activity of the catalysts was measured in the model reaction-oxidation of hydroquinone (H(2)Q) top-benzoquinone (Q) by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Under the optimal conditions only main product p-benzoquinone (yield 98%) was obtained after 80 min. The catalytic activity and selectivity in the Cu(II)-resin system increases compared to reaction without catalyst and with native Cu(II) ions. For the best catalyst, after 10 min. initial oxidation rate increased 57 times in comparison with the same reaction without catalyst as well as 16 times in comparison with native Cu(II) ions. The oxidation reaction of H(2)Q showed a kinetic behaviour typical for a Michaelis-Menten mechanism. The optimal oxidation parameters in the reaction H(2)Q --> Q are (a) H(2)Q:Cu(II) ratio-10:1, (b) H2O2 concentration-5 x 10 (mol/l) and (c) solution pH above 5. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.