N,N'-Dipropionitrile acrylamide (DPAAm) monomer was synthesized by the reaction of 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile with acryloyl chloride. This monomer was polymerized by using AIBN as initiator in ethanol solution at 70 degreesC and a conversion of 77% obtained. The polymer reacts with hydroxylamine to afford a new polymer containing two pendant amidoxime groups in each monomeric unit. The conversion of the nitrite groups to amidoxime group was followed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The structure of poly(DPAAm) and amidoximated poly(DPAAm) were also characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) spectroscopy further confirming amidoximation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.