Polymer-bound 2,2＇-bipyridine cobalt complexes PSBPY-Co, PSBPY-Co-bipy, PSBPY-Co-oxine, and PSBPY-Co-phen (where PSBPY: polystyrene bound-2,2＇-bipyridine; bipy: 2,2＇-bipyridine; phen: 1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized and investigated by IR, X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The complexes mere found to be catalysts for the oxidation of alkylbenzenes and cyclohexene in the presence of molecular oxygen in the absence of solvent. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.