AbstractDesign of latent catalysts such as benzyl sulfonium, benzyl ammonium, benzyl pyridinium, benzyl phosphonium, and hydrazinium salts, and their application to polymer synthesis have been described. They have been demonstrated as excellent thermal or photolatent catalysts for polymerizations of cyclic monomers such as epoxides, bicyclo orthoesters, spiro orthocarbonates, and vinyl monomers such as styrene and vinyl ethers.