The derivatives of 2%-divinylbenzene (DVB)-crosslinked polystyrene resins with N-ethylaminodithiocarbamate, N-ethanolaminodithiocarbamate, and N-t-butylamino-dithiocarbamate groups were prepared. The amine functionality was introduced to the acetylated polystyrene to give the imine-supported resins which were reduced by using NaBH4 and then converted to the respective dithiocarbamates by reaction with carbon disulfide under alkaline conditions. The structure of the functionalized resins was confirmed by FTIR and elemental analysis. The ability of these polystyrene-dithiocarbamate resins to form complexes with Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) ions was found to be highest with Hg(II), followed by Pb(II), and then Cd(II). A general increase in the ability to complex with metal ions was observed from the dithiocarbamate resin derived from N-t-butylamino polystyrene to those derived from N-ethylamino polystyrene and N-ethanolamino polystyrene. The complexation level and preference among ions of these dithiocarbamate resins depends on the structures of their functional groups. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.