This paper provides a brief account of our recent researches in organolanthanoid chemistry containing N and S ligands. The first is concerned with the synthesis of organolanthanoid complexes, including anionic, supramolecular, neutral organolanthanoid amides and the organolanthanoid complexes supported by beta-diketiminate, as well as organolanthanoid thiolates. The second deals with the reactivity of these organolanthanoid complexes, including the reaction with phenyl isocyanate, CS2, and phenyl isothiocyanate, and the catalytic activity for the polymerization of polar monomers, such as methyl methacrylate, (dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and epsilon-caprolactone. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.