Chelate polymers of azelaoyl bis-N-phenyl hydroxamic acid with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were synthesized for the first time in a dimethylformamide (DMF) medium. These newly synthesized chelate polymers were characterized on the basis of several analytical techniques, namely, elemental analyses, infrared and reflectance spectral studies, magnetic moment, and thermal analyses. On the basis of data obtained with these techniques, the composition of the polymeric units, the structure, and the geometry were ascertained. It was found that the Mn(II) and Zn(II) chelate polymers had a tetrahedral geometry, whereas the Co(II) and Ni(II) chelate polymers were octahedral. Thermal analytical data clearly indicated that the Ni(II) chelate polymer was highly thermally stable relative to the Mn(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) chelate polymers. Since these chelate polymers are highly insoluble in almost all the organic solvents, including alcohol, acetone, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, DMF, and DMSO, and have high thermal stability, they may be used as surface-coating materials and as thermally stable materials. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.