2-Hydroxy-4-methacryloyloxybenzaldehyde (2H4MBA),prepared from methacryloyl chloride and 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde,was polymerized in methyl ethyl ketone at 70 degrees C using benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator. Polychelates were obtained from N,N-dimethylformamide solutions of poly(2H4MBA) on addition of aqueous solutions of Cu(II)/Ni(II) ions. The polymers and polychelates were characterized by elemental analyses and spectral studies. The IR spectra of these polychelates suggest that metals are coordinated through the oxygen of the aldehyde group and oxygen of the phenolic-OH group. The electronic spectra, EPR, and magnetic moments of polychelates showed an octahedral and square planar structure for poly(2H4MBA)-Ni(II) and poly(2H4MBA)-Cu(II) complexes, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the polychelates are highly crystalline. The thermal properties of polymer-metal complexes and their catalytic activity are discussed.