The monodisperse, 5.0 mu m hydrophilic macroporOLIS poly (glycidymethacrylate-co-ethylenedimethacrylate) beads were first prepared based on monosized linear poly(glycidylmethacrylate) beads as seed by using a single-step swelling and polymerization method. The seed beads prepared by dispersion polymerization exhibited good absorption of the monomer phase. The pore size distribution of the beads was evaluated by mercury instrusion method. The surface area was calculated from the BET isotherms of nitrogen adsorption and desorption. The beads were modified to be a normal-phase liquid chromatographic (NPLC) stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the following steps. First, the beads were completely hydrolyzed. Second, hydrolyzed particles were reacted with epichlorihydrin followed by another hydrolysis of the newly introduced epoxide groups. The retention properties of the NPLC stationary phase were easily modulated by changes in the composition of the mobile phase. The performance of theses beads was demonstrated with the separation of a variety of polar compounds. The satisfactory results were obtained. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.