This study investigated the antimicrobial properties of polymer-bound Schiff bases and their Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes. Novel polystyrene oligomer-bound Schiff bases (FMPS-Sch) were prepared from (4-formyl-3-methoxyphenoxymethyl)polystyrene (FMPS) with cycloalkylaminothiophene derivatives and their Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. All these substances have been examined for antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains; Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi H, Brucella abortus, Shigella dysenteria type 10, Micrococcu.luteus and antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Most of the studied compounds were found effective against bacteria studied and yeast. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012