Since the last ASI in Turkey in Sept. 1995, the olefin metathesis has made remarkable strong developments with an incredible speed in various directions. New catalyst systems have been developed which have resulted in the synthesis of novel materials. Other fascinating developments have been the new catalysts for stereoselective metathesis and catalysts with considerable functional group tolerance. These new catalysts in addition to Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerisation (ROMP) and Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET) are now powerful tools for Ring Closing Metathesis (RCM) and have found many applications in the synthesis of natural products. A lot of information has been established about all aspects of the olefin metathesis and there is a vast literature concerning the process, covering the initiators, mechanistic features and applications of this reaction in organic and polymer synthesis. The NATO ASI on rd th ROMP and Related Chemistry took place in Polanica-Zdroj, Poland during 3 to 15 Sept. 2000, to highlight the developments in this area and to discuss the prospects and visions for the year 2000 and beyond. The aims of the ASI were: to provide a platform for dissemination of knowledge; to promote communication between people who have a serious interest in this field of chemistry; to help establishing international scientific contacts and to provide an opportunity for the scientists with an appropriate scientific background to learn of recent developments in this field of science. There were 15 lecturers and 67 participants in this NATO ASI.
