Abstract The cationic monomer, N, N-diallyl-(diethylphosphonato) methylammonium chloride, and zwitterionic monomer, ethyl 3-(N, N-diallylammonio) methanephosphonate, were cyclopolymerized in aqueous solutions using ammonium persulfate or t- butylhydroperoxide as initiators to afford a cationic polyelectrolyte (CPE) and a polyzwitterion ester (PZE), respectively. The CPE and PZE on acidic hydrolysis of the ester ...