Poly(o-amino benzyl amine), poly(m-amino benzyl amine), and the copolymers with aniline were synthesized in 10(-4)M HCl by using ammonium persulfate as oxidizing agent. The copolymers were synthesized at various feed mole fractions of comonomer diamine and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, H-1-NMR spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity. The polymerization yield depended on the substituent position in the aromatic ring. Copper ion was incorporated in the polymers and the amount depended on the side groups position in the aromatic ring. The thermal stability increased when copper ions and aniline units were incorporated in the polymers. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.