Two DMAP-based flexible polymer networks TPB-DMAP and TPA-DMAP have been successfully synthesized via palladium catalyzed Heck cross-coupling. The structures of these polymers were confirmed by solid state C-13 CP/MAS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Although both polymers have negligible surface areas, they exhibit excellent catalytic efficiency for the acylation of 1-phenylethanol with acetic anhydride due to their good swelling capacities. Utilized as a typical catalyst, the polymer TPA-DMAP shows high activities for acylation of a variety of alcohols to the corresponding esters. Moreover, the catalyst can be recycled at least ten times without obvious loss of catalytic activity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.