A novel approach to branched polyacrylamide was described. The branched structure resulted from the amidyl radicals which were formed by the reaction of amide groups with Cu(III) of potassium diperiodatocuprate, K-5[CU(HIO6)(2)], in alkaline medium and capable of initiating the vinyl polymerization of acrylamide monomer. The obtained polymer was characterized by H-1 NMR, FT-IR and intrinsic viscosity measurements.