Simple novel research plan has been employed to tailor supports for lipase immobilization. N-aminoethylacrylamide (N-AEMAAm) and N-aminoethylmethacrylamide (N-AEMAAm) were crosslinked with N,N-methylene bisacrylamide (N,N-MBAAm) and consequently reacted separately with acrylic acid (AAc) and methacrylic acid (MAAc). The hydrogels thus formed, consist of both amide and carboxylic functional groups. These hydrogels were characterized by nitrogen analysis, SEM, FTIR and also by water uptake studies as a function of time, temperature, pH, and the presence of additives like sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). These hydrogels are environmentally sensitive. In the presence of surfactants, these hydrogels show micellization and swell to the maximum at the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the surfactants. Lipase was immobilized on these hydrogels and the one exhibiting the maximum activity was further used as biocatalyst to explore nonconventional green routes for the synthesis of some known and novel vinyl monomers. Yields obtained have been high and the immobilized. lipase show high reusability. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.