The general features of ring-opening polymerisation, for example the dependence of polymerisability upon ring-strain, the significance of ring-chain equilibria, and the potential for formation of cyclic oligomers are outlined. The mechanisms and implementation of anionic ring-opening polymerisation, cationic ring-opening polymerisation, stereospecific coordinated anionic polymerisation, free-radical ring-opening polymerisation and ionic ring-opening copolymerisation are described. A final section on ring-opening metathesis polymerisation includes a brief discussion of catalysts, thermodynamics, stereochemistry, kinetics and applications.

The report is completed by the inclusion of some 330 references and abstracts from the Polymer Library.