2-Hydroxy-4-acryloyloxybenzaldehyde (2H4ABA) prepared from acryloyl chloride and 2,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde, was polymerized in 2-butanone at 65 degrees C using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Polychelates were obtained in N,N-dimethylformamide solution of poly(2H4ABA) with aqueous solution of Cu(II)/Ni(II) ions. The polymers and polychelates were characterized by elemental analysis and spectral studies. The infra-red spectral data of polychelates suggest that the metals are coordinated through the oxygen of the aldehyde group and oxygen of the phenolic-OH group. The electronic spectra, e.p.r and magnetic moments of polychelates show an octahedral and square planar structure for poly(2H4ABA)-Ni(II) and poly(2H4ABA)-Cu(II) complexes respectively. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the highly crystalline nature of polychelates. The thermal properties of polymer-metal complexes and their catalytic activity are discussed.