Insoluble, only slightly swellable polymer having modified amino groups, processes for their preparation and their use

The invention concerns insoluble polymers which can swell only slightly and contain units of formula (I) and/or (II), in which R is H, C1-C6 alkyl; R , R are H, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl; and ME is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium equivalent. The invention also concerns processes for preparing these polymers by reacting insoluble polymers which can only swell slightly and contain units of formula (III), in which R is H or C1-C6 alkyl, with (1) alpha -haloacids or their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts, or (2) aldehydes and hydrogen cyanide or alkali cyanide, or cyanohydrins comprising aldehydes and alkali cyanide, and hydrolyzing the adducts. The invention further concerns the use of these polymers as adsorber resin for metallic ions and as ion exchangers.