Several random and block copolynorbornenes with side chains containing terminal hydroxyl, amino, methacryloyl or ammonium groups were derived from the functional alkyl ester-containing norbornenes by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The main chain of ROMP-type polynorbornene had a more important role for glass-transition temperature in comparison with vinyl addition polymerization. There is little effect on glass-transition temperature (about -39 degrees C) of polynorbornenes with different length of alkyl side chain. The organosoluble copolynorbornenes with active crosslinkable methylacryloyl side chains derived from functional hydroxyl group were prepared to improve the thermal stability of poly(methyl methacrylate) [decomposition temperature (T-d)(10%) = 325 degrees C in nitrogen] by forming networked AB crosslinked polymer (T-d(10%) = 367 degrees C in nitrogen). The sizes of nanometerscale polymeric micelles of block copolymers having hydrophobic alkyl ester and hydrophilic ammonium groups were measured in the range of 11-25 nm by scanning electron microscopy. These polymeric materials with various functional groups or amphiphilic architectures are accessible by ROMP, whose topology makes them particularly attractive for application potential such as biomedical and photoelectric materials. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.