Organolanthanide (III) initiated polymerization of alkyl acrylates gave high molecular weight poly(alkyl acrylate)s with extremely narrow molecular weight distribution in high yield. Molecular weight of the polymers increased linearly with the conversion. Random and block copolymerizations of acrylate monomers (alkyl acrylates and MMA) were successful. For development of olefin polymerization catalystsbased on lanthanide complexes, bulky substituents were introduced into Me(2)Si bridged Cp rings and they were used as ligands of lanthanide complexes. Tri- and divalent lanthanide complexes with such a ligand system showed high activity for olefin polymerization and gave high molecular weight polyolefins.