Abstract: Both linear and cross-linked copolymers of N-vinylcarbazole and methylacrylate were prepared and mercuriated by using mercury trifluoroacetate in THF or dichloromethane. The mercuriated copolymers, both linear and cross-linked, were hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide in a mixture of water and THF. The hydrolyzed mercury loading linear copolymer was soluhle in water,and the hydrolyzed mercury loading crosslinked copolymer was a water-absorbing polymer. The iodination of the hydrolyzed mercuri ated copolymers was carried out in water with KI₃, and the iodination of unhydrolyzed mer curiated copolymers was done in THF with I₂. The forms of the hydrolyzed mercuriated polymer chains could be changed in different solvents and the change of the forms could af fect both iodination and fluorescence intensity of the corresponding mercury loading copoly mer.

Key words: Copolymer of N-vinylcarhazole and acrylic acid, Mercuriation, Iodination, Hy drolysis, Fluorescence.