Et 3 GeOMe-initiated polymerizations of ε-caprolactone were studied at six different temperatures, but even at 180 o C the conversion was below 50% after two days. Ge(OEt) 4 proved to be more reactive and a temperature of 120 o C was found to allow for a nearly quantitative conversion after two days. All four ethoxy groups were active in the initiation process, but a broad molecular weight distribution was found and a low percentage (presumably <1mol%) of cyclic oligomers was formed. Ring-expansion polymerization initiated with a spirocyclic germanium alkoxide was feasible at 140 o C and yielded a molecular weight distribution quite different from that obtained with Ge(OEt) 4 . The monomer/initiator (M/I) ratio was varied, and it was found that the average degree of polymerization (DP) did not agree with the M/I ratio for M/I's above 200. Addition of 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride to the hot virgin reaction mixtures yielded poly(ε-CL) chains having functional endgroups but the degree of functionalization never exceeded 80%.