The living ring-opening metathesis polymerisation of norbornene monomers bearing amino ester residues, using the molybdenum initiators Mo(=CHCMe 2 Ph)(=N-2,6-i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 )(OR) 2 , {R = CMe 3 , I A , CMe 2 CF 3 , I B , CMe(CF 3 ) 2 , I C }, is reported. The monomers are derived from reactions of exo- and endo- himic anhydrides with the amino ester hydrochlorides of glycine (1), alanine (2) and isoleucine (3). The optically pure monomers derived from 2 and 3 afford optically active polymers whose optical activities are independent of cis content and molecular weight, indicating the absence of a cooperative effect between chiral centres along the chain. The polymers derived from the exo monomers show a cis-trans vinylene dependence upon the ancillary alkoxide ligands of the initiator with I A giving high trans contents and I C giving high cis. The cis/trans content for the endo polymers show relatively little or no dependence upon the initiator. Poly(exo-1) is exceptional in its ability to incorporate various hydrocarbons in the solid state, including hexane and methane.