A novel 1,2,4,5-tetrazine functionalized polymer P-Tz was successfully synthesized by the reaction of an aminomethylated macroporous polystyrene-DVB-copolymer (P-Am) with 3-bromo-6-phenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine. The proposed structure of the functional groups of P-Tz was confirmed by synthesis of the model compound benzyl-(6-phenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3-yl)-amine and comparative FTIR-spectroscopic investigations, An application of P-Tz as a redox polymer is not possible due to the cleavage of the tetrazine groups under reducing conditions. Metal sorption and desorption studies of the resin P-Tz were carried out and the results compared with the properties of the weak base anion exchanger P-Am. Evidence is given that the secondary amine spacer of P-Tz influences markedly its over all sorption properties, i.e., the tetrazine-modified resin shows in dilute hydrochloric acid typical anion-exchange properties towards precious metal ions. Compared with the starting polymer P-Am the selectivity sequence found for P-Tz, Pd(II) > Au(III) much greater than Lr(IV) > Os(IV) > Pt(IV) > Ru(III) > Rh(III), revealed a significantly higher selectivity for Pd(II) which is established even in the presence of an excess of base metals. The results of desorption studies obtained by applying perchloric acid and thiourea as eluting agents led to the assumption that palladium is strongly N-coordinated by the functional tetrazine groups and the secondary amine spacer as well. This hypothesis is confirmed by the structural characterization of a Pd(II)-chelate which is formed during solvent extraction using a monomolecular tetrazine analogue.