New ion exchange/coordination resins for the selective complexation of metal ions have been obtained by selective hydrolysis of a polymer-bound ligand-ethoxycarbonylethyl phosphonate. Their properties such as water regain, phosphorus content, acid capacity and sorption properties towards copper(II) from nitric acid solutions were determined. Structures of ligand complexes with copper(II) were studied using electron paramagnetic resonance and compared to the structures of complexes formed by diphosphonate and dicarboxylate ligands.