The use of silicon in polymer synthesis has many advantages over other methods and is therefore common in many industrial and university laboratories. That the authors come from the industry and from the universities guarantees a concise overview on the current status of the topic.

1 Polymerization of Si-Containing Vinyl Monomers and Acetylenes.- 1.1 Si-Containing Styrenes.- 1.2 Various Vinyl Monomers.- 1.3 Polymerizations of Si-Containing Acetylenes.- 1.4 Silylated Acetylenes in Condensation Reactions.- 1.5 Silicon-Containing Initiators and Catalysts.- 1.6 References.- 2 Group Transfer Polymerization.- 2.1 The GTP Process.- 2.2 Mechanism.- 2.3 Catalysis.- 2.4 Initiators.- 2.5 Monomers.- 2.6 Termination.- 2.7 Aldol-GTP.- 2.8 Conclusions.- 2.9 References.- 3 Polysiloxanes and Polymers Containing Siloxane Groups.- 3.1 Polysiloxanes.- 3.2 Polysiloxane Copolymers.- 3.3 Polysiloxanes Forming Mesophases.- 3.4 References.- 4 Poly(organosilanes), Poly(carbosilanes), Poly(organosilazanes).- 4.1 Poly(organosilanes).- 4.2 Poly(carbosilanes).- 4.3 Poly(organosilazanes).- 4.4 Poly(carbosilazanes).- 4.5 References.- 5 Polycondensation of Silylated Monomers.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Polyureas and Related Polymers.- 5.3 Polyamides.- 5.4 Polyimides.- 5.5 Polybenzoxazoles.- 5.6 Aromatic Polyethers.- 5.7 Polyesters.- 5.8 Polyanhydrides.- 5.9 Phosphorus Containing Polymers.- 5.10 Miscellaneous Polymers.- 5.11 References.- 6 Miscellaneous Applications of Silicon Reagents.- 6.1 Difunctional Isocyanates and Isothiocyanates.- 6.2 Syntheses of N Carboxyanhydrides, Polypeptides and Polyamides.- 6.3 Silicon in Ring-Opening Polymerization.- 6.4 Various Polymerizations and Polymers.- 6.5 References.- 7 Chemical Modification of Polymers and Surfaces.- 7.1 Coupling Agents-Introduction and Syntheses.- 7.2 Application of Coupling Agents in Composites.- 7.3 Coupling Agents for Chromatography, Immobilization of Metal Ions and Enzymes.- 7.4 Surfactants and Analysis of Silanized Surfaces.- 7.5 Miscellaneous Modification.- 7.6 References.- Appendix A.- Silicon-Based Thermoset Resins.-Appendix B.- Silylation and Silylating Agents.