Copolymer beads of 4-vinyl pyridine (4VP) and n-vinyl pyrrolictone (NVP) [Poly(4VP-co-NVP)] were synthesized by suspension polymerization with various compositions of 4VP:NVP (10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, and 5:5). The spherical shape and the macroporous nature similar to the 4VP homopolymer was noticed in copolymers of 6:4 and 5:5, while others were nonporous. The copolymer beads were characterized by FTIR, NMR, SEM, TGA, and dilute solution viscosity. Equilibrium sorption percentages in water were proportional to the content of NVP in the copoly-mer. The copolymers displayed higher Cu2+ metal uptake capacity because of their amphiphilic nature. Such copolymer beads with higher ion chelating capacity and improved hydrophilicity may be more suitable for protein immobilization, catalysis, drug delivery etc. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.