Mechanistic and synthetic studies in organometallic chemistry have provided considerable insight into olefin metathesis and Ziegler-Natta polymerization. New homogeneous olefin metathesis catalysts based on high oxidation state transition metals have opened new opportunities in polymer synthesis by providing unprecedented control in ring-opening polymerization of cyclic alkenes. The recent development of living coordinative polymerization systems has led to the preparation of a number of new, interesting materials, including block copolymers, conducting polymers or precursors, and ionophoric polymeric substrates.