Poly(l,4-cyclopentenylene-5,6-ethylidene-2,3-disodium dicarboxy1ate)s have been synthesised from the exo,exo-, endo,endo- and exo, endo- isomers of dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.l]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylates in a three step process involving ring opening metathesis polymerisation, hydrogenation and hydrolysis. Exo,exo- and endo,exo- pendant functional group stereochemistries were unchanged throughout these processes, whereas, the Polymers derived from the endo,endo-monomer underwent fragmentation during hydrogenation and isomerisation during hydrolysi s to give to the more stable endo,exo- form of the polymer.