This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials. In particular, the invention relates to linear polycarbosilane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatoghraphy, chemical trapping, analyte collection, and chemical sensor applications. These polymers have pendant and terminal aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups that are functionalized with halogen substituted alcohol or phenol groups, having the general structure: ##STR00001## wherein n is an integer greater than 1; wherein at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a linear or branched arm having at least one group independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl groups, or combinations thereof, and having at least one halogen substituted alcohol or phenol groups attached thereto; wherein any said R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 aryl groups are attached to said [Si--X--].sub.n either directly or through a short hydrocarbon chain; wherein any remaining said R.sup.1 or R.sup.2 group is a hydrocarbon or carbosilane group; wherein X is a polymer component selected from the group consisting of alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene groups, and combinations thereof; and wherein Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are end groups independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkyl silanes, aryl silanes, hydroxyl, silicon hydride, alkoxides, phenols, halogen substituted alcohols, halogen substituted phenols, organosilyl, and combinations thereof. These polymeric materials are primarily designed to sorb hydrogen bond basic analytes such as organophosphonate esters (nerve agents and precursors) and nitro-substituted compounds (explosives).