The polymeric metal complexes of poly (3-hydroxy-4-((Z)-1-(phenylimino)ethyl)phenyl-3-methylbut-2-enoate) designated as [poly(3H4-1PEPMB)] and poly (3-hydroxy-4-((Z)-phenyl(phenylimino)methyl) phenyl-3-methylbut-2-enoate designated as [poly(3H4-PPMPMB)] containing Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Ca(II), and Zn(II) ions were synthesized. The ploymer ligands and metal complexes were charcterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The XRD study of the complexes revealed highly crystalline nature of polychelates. The polymeric complexes were active for the oxidation of aldehyde group. The oxidation activity of Cu (II) complex of poly (3H4-1PEPMB) was studied for the oxidation of benzaldehyde and its derivaties to corresponding carboxylic acids. The oxidation products were confirmed by GC-MS analysis. The oxidation of aldehydes was quantitative with 100% selectivity for benzioc acid. Thermal analysis of complexes indicated reasonably good thermal stability. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 128: 66-74, 2013