Benzylmethoxybis(2,4,tin (1) and benzylisopropoxybis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)tin (2) were synthesized and characterized. Compound 1 exhibited good activity in the ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactone, in a liVing fashion, under mild conditions. The polymerization was demonstrated to proceed via ring-opening of the monomer at the acyl-oxygen bond. The -caprolactone insertion product into the Sn-OCH 3 of the initiator was characterized, providing support for a "coordination-insertion" mechanism.