Soluble and insoluble polymeric Schiff bases PolySalPn and PolySal-DPT* have been synthesised. The polymers and their copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes have been fully characterised by their elemental analyses and by spectroscopic methods. The Co—PolySalDPT proved to be as efficient as the corresponding monomeric complex in catalysing the oxidation of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol