A copolymer containing enantiopure epoxy groups was prepared in excellent yield by radical suspension copolymerization of (S)-glycidyl methacrylate with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. In order to control the physical and surfaces properties of the copolymer, we studied the influence of the stirring rate reaction and the concentration of the cross-linking agent on the copolymerization reaction. This allowed the evaluation of the influence of the specific surface area, the particle size and the level of functionalization on catalytic efficiency of their copolymer derivatives. These enantiopure poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) beads were then transformed into optically active polyamino alcohols through epoxide ring opening with different achiral or homochiral amines. In order to show the efficiency of these new copolymers, they were used as ligands of ruthenium in asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction of acetophenone. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.