Polymer supported transition metal complexes of N,N'-bis (o-hydroxy acetophenone) hydrazine (HPHZ) Schiff base were prepared by anchoring its amino derivative Schiff base (AHPHZ) on cross-linked (6 wt%) polymer beads and then loading iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II) ions in methanol. The loading of HPHZ Schiff base on polymer beads was 3.436 mmol g(-1) and efficiency of complexation of polymer anchored HPHZ Schiff base for iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II) ions was 83.21, 83.40 and 83.17%, respectively. The efficiency of complexation of unsupported HPHZ Schiff base for these metallions was lower than polymer supported HPHZ Schiff base. The structural information obtained by spectral, magnetic and elemental analysis has suggested octahedral and square planar geometry for iron(III) and copper(II) ions complexes, respectively, with paramagnetic behavior, but zinc(II) ions complexes were tetrahedral in shape with diamagnetic behavior. The complexation with metal ions has increased thermal stability of polymer anchored HPHZ Schiff base. The catalytic activity of unsupported and polymer supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of metal ions was evaluated by studying the oxidation of phenol (Ph) and epoxidation of cyclohexene (CH). The polymer supported metal complexes showed better catalytic activity than unsupported metal complexes. The catalytic activity of metal complexes was optimum at a molar ratio of 1: 1: 1 of substrate to oxidant and catalyst. The selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) in oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene was better with polymer supported metal complexes in comparison to unsupported metal complexes. The energy of activation for oxidation of phenol (22.8 kJ mol(-1)) and epoxidation of cyclohexene (8.9 kJ mol(-1)) was lowest with polymer supported complexes of iron(III) ions than polymer supported Schiff base complexes of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.