N'-(2-cyanoacetyl)acrylohydrazide (CAH) was obtained with the treatment of 2-cyanoacetohydrazide with acryloyl chloride in acetonitrile. The obtained acrlyoyl derivative was transferred to the corresponding polymer, poly[N'-(2-cyanoacetyl)acrylohydrazide] (PCAH), through treatment with 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile at 75 degrees C. Copolymers with styrene or N-phenyl acrylamide monomers were synthesized with different ratios. The structures of these polymers were characterized with elemental analysis and spectral data. The morphology, metal uptake, and ion selectivity of the polymers were studied. In addition, the swelling behavior of the polymer and metallopoymer complexes at different times of drying was also investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymer and polymer complexes under air reflected that PCAH-Pb was the most stable, followed by PCAH, PCAH-Hg, PCAH-Cu, PCAH-Ni, and PCAH-Co. A similar stability with little difference was reported under nitrogen. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 200-210, 2010