This invention relates generally to a new class of chemoselective polymer materials primarily designed to sorb hydrogen bond basic analytes such as organophosphonate esters (nerve agents and precursors) and nitro-substituted compounds (explosives). In particular, the invention relates to linear polycarbosilane compounds for use in various analytical applications involving sorbent polymer materials, including chromatography, 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: wherein n is an integer greater than 1; wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is a pendant group having at least one aryl group independently selected from the group consisting of a phenol, a halogen substituted phenol, and an aryl hydrocarbon with a halogen substituted alcohol substitutent, or combinations thereof; wherein any said R1 and R2 aryl groups are attached to said [Si—X—], either directly or through a short hydrocarbon chain; wherein any remaining said R1 or R2 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 Z1 and Z2 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.