We report on the preparation and the characterization of R-alkylated quaternary salts (with R = CH3, C12H25, C16H33, X = Br-) derived from 3-vinylpyridine (3-VP). Our first attempts on free radical polymerization of 1-hexadecyl-3-vinylpyridinium bromide in benzene solution were described. The viscosimetric behaviour and binding of dye (Methyl Orange) to this homopolymer in aqueous media were interpreted as the formation of compact coils resulting in the presence of hydrophobic microdomains.