Radical polymerization of the complexes of 1‐vinylimidazole, 1‐vinylbenzimidazole, and 1‐vinylbenztriazole with MnCl2, NiCl2, and ZnCl2 was investigated. It was found that the polymerization is accompanied by spontaneous polymerization in the case of MnCl2 and ZnCl2, inhibition by coordination of macroradicals with Ni2+ ions, and a gel effect by crosslinking of the formed polymer during the complexing with Zn2+. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 101–108, 2000