A maleimide functionalized terpyridine, 4'(4-malemidophenyl)-2, 2' : 6', 2 ''-terpyridine, was synthesized and copolymerized with styrene via radical polymerization. The synthesized monomer was characterized by CHN elemental analysis, FT-IR, H-1 NMR, and Mass spectrometry. The structure of polymer was also confirmed by FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The resulting polymer was soluble in chloroform and polar aprotic solvents, and showed an inherent viscosity of 1.5 dL/g in N,N-dimethyl formamide at 25 degrees C. The polymer solution in CHCl3/methanol showed a metal-ligand charge-transfer band of 586 nm upon addition of Fe(II) ion, exhibiting that coordination between terpyridine units and Fe(II) had occurred. The thermal stability of polymer before and after complexation with Fe(II) was examined by thermogravimetric analysis. For polymer before complexation, the weight loss started at 180 degrees C whereas for complexed polymer it started at 260 degrees C, which demonstrates good thermal stability of complexed polymer. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 179-183, 2010