An efficient crosslinked polymer support was synthesized by introducing 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate crosslinker to a polystyrene network using aqueous suspension polymerization technique. The support was functionalized with aminomethyl groups using chloromethyl phthalimide. The kinetics of amide bond formation on 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate crosslinked polystyrene (PS-BDODMA) polymer were carried out using the attachment of Rink amide linker as a model reaction. The efficiency of the support was tested and compared with Merrifield resin by following different steps involved in the synthesis of a 14-residue model peptide, Lys-Ile-Asn-Thr-Asn-Ala-Ser-Trp-His-Ala-Asn-Arg-Thr-Ala-NH2, under the same synthetic conditions. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.