Ring-opening polymerization is one of the main access routes to heteroatom polymers such as polyphosphazenes or polysiloxanes.In the case of polyphosphazenes, a key reaction is the thermal ring-opening polymerization of (NPCl 2 ) 3 to poly(dichorophosphazene), (NPCl 2 ) n , which is the starting point for a wide range of macromolecular substitution reactions that yield stable and useful organophosphazene high polymers. The mechanism of polymerization of (NPCl 2 ) 3 is discussed, together with an extension of the polymerization to organophosphazene trimers and to heterocyclic monomers that contain carbon or sulfur as well as phosphorus and nitrogen in the ring.The broadest emphasis in polymer synthesis in the past 50 years has been placed on the polymerization of petrochemical monomers to organic polymers. However, the emerging field of inorganic-organic polymers is gaining increased attention because it provides an essential bridge between organic polymers and the broader areas of inorganic materials such as ceramics, metals, semiconductors, and superconductors.Prominent among these newer polymer systems is the growing field of phosphazene macromolecules (7). These polymers have the general structure shown in 1. They can be considered as being related to the older area of polysiloxanes (2) (2) and stucturally to polyethers such as polyaldehydes or polyketones (3).Polyphosphazenes are unique macromolecules in a number of ways. First, the inorganic backbone provides an unusually high degree of molecular flexibility (comparable to polysiloxanes). Second, the presence of equi-elemental amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen in these polymers provides a built-in resistance to burning. Third, the backbone is transparent from the near infrared to 220 mu in the ultraviolet. Fourth, the methods of synthesis allow an almost unprecedented range of organic, organometallic, or inorganic side groups to be linked to the skeleton. Different side groups alter the solubility, solvent resistance, crystallinity, glass transition temperature, optical absorption, electrical conductivity, biomedical compatibility, refractive index, and non-linear-optical response. Thus, the opportunities for