Immobilization of Schiff base cobalt(Ill) complexes on a gel-type terpolymer obtained from glycidyl methacrylate (GMA, 20 mol %), styrene (S, 77 mol %) and diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (DMDMG, 3 mol %) was carried out using a multi-step procedure. GMA resin was reacted first with an excess of diamine (ethylenediamine, trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane or 1,3-diaminopropane) and then with salicylaldehyde (non-substituted or its 3,5-dichloro- and 3,5-di-t-butyl-substituted derivatives). Series of salicylaldimine ligands immobilized on the polymer matrix obtained in this way were then applied to complex cobalt ions from solution of cobalt(II) acetate in the mixture of MeOH and CH2Cl2 (1/3 V/V). Obtained polymer bound cobalt salicylaldimine complexes were tested as catalysts of the addition of aliphatic carboxylic acids to terminal epoxides. It was found that the catalysts with 1,2-diamine moieties are clearly more active than the complexes with 1,3-diaminopropane one. Furthermore, the studies showed the highest activity of the complex with 3,5-di-t-butylsalicylaldehyde moiety and the least with 3,5-dinitrosalicylaldehyde one. The negative effect of methacrylic acid on the rate of the addition was also found. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 655-663, 2010