The synthesis and polymerizability of imine C¼ ¼N monomers is surveyed. The investigated imines were either far more reactive than similarly substituted C¼ ¼C or C¼ ¼O monomers, or too stable to polymerize. Imines with electron-attracting substituents on N favor polymerization by anionic mechanism, but led only to low molecular weight polymers. Imines with a donor substituent on N, such as N-arylmethyleneimines, polymerized by cationic or anionic mechanism. 1-and 2-Aza-1,3-butadienes were also rather unstable and polymerized to oligomers. The symmetrically substituted 2,3-diaza-1,3-butadienes could be purified and polymerized successfully using anionic initiators, resulting in both 1,4-and 1,2-structures in the polymer backbone, depending on the substituents. KEYWORDS: anionic polymerization; azo polymers; oligomers; polyimines INTRODUCTION Polymerizations involving olefin C¼ ¼C monomers are a major sector of polymer chemistry, while polymerizations of carbonyl C¼ ¼O monomers are also well established. In contrast, polymerizations involving imine C¼ ¼N monomers have received much less attention. In this review, we shall survey existing knowledge in the area of imines and azabutadienes.