2-Hydroxy-4-acryloyloxybenzophenone (HABP), prepared from acryloyl chloride with 2,4- dihydroxybenzophenone, was polymerized in methyl ethyl ketone at 70 degrees C using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Polychelates were obtained in the dimethylformamide solution of poly(HABP) containing a few drops of ammonia with the aqueous solution of Cu(II)/Ni(II) ions. The polymer and polychelates were characterized by elemental analyses and spectral studies. Elemental analyses of the polychelates suggest a metal to ligand ratio of 1:2. The IR spectral data of polychelates indicate that the metals were coordinated through the oxygen of the keto group and the oxygen of the phenolic-OH group. The diffuse reflectance spectra, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic moments of the polychelates show an octahedral and square planar structure for poly(HABP)-Ni(II) and poly(HABP)-Cu(II) complexes, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies revealed a high crystalline nature of the polychelates. The thermal properties of polymer and metal complexes and their catalytic activity are discussed.