The radical copolymerization of N-phenylmaleimide was carried out with P-methyl hydrogen itaconate at 70degreesC for 12 h. The copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared, and H-1-NMR spectroscopy. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by the Kelen-Tudos and Fineman-Ross methods. These values demonstrated that the copolymerization reaction produced statistical copolymers with a tendency to alternation. The retention capacity of the copolymers for Cu2+ ions, varied from 296 to 348 mg/g at pHs 5 and 7. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.