TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The zero-valent palladium compound is bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium that is a complex where two dibenzylideneacetone molecules are coordinated to one zero-valent palladium atom or tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium that is a complex where three dibenzylideneacetone molecules are coordinated to two zero-valent palladium atoms. The ionic boron compound is triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate or lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate-ethyl ether complex and the phosphine compound is tricyclohexyl phosphine. The zero-valent palladium compound is used in an amount of 1/1000000 to 1/100 mole, calculated as zero valent palladium, per mole of total of monomers of formulae (I) and (II). The ionic boron compound is used in an amount of 1-2 moles per mole of zero-valent palladium compound, and the phosphine compound is used in an amount of 0.25-2 moles per mole of zero-valent palladium compound.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Method: The addition polymerization is carried out in atmosphere of an inert gas under conditions of 0-150 degrees C and 1-72 hours. The addition polymerization is carried out in solvent, where a ratio by weight between amount S of the solvent and total amount M of the cyclic olefin monomers consisting of compounds (I) and (II), indicated by S/M, is 0.1-30. The method further involves recovering addition polymer and forming it into film, sheet or coating. Preferred Definitions:    R1=-CH3;    A1-A4=H;    i=0.    EXAMPLE - A monomer C (5-((di(trimethylsilyloxy)methyl)silyl)-norbornene) (12.6 g) was dissolved in toluene (25 ml) in nitrogen-purged glass container. A separately prepared catalyst solution (i.e. solution dissolving, in toluene (15 ml), bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium (0.0115 g), triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (0.0184 g) and tricyclohexyl phosphine (0.0056 g)) was added to monomer solution, followed by polymerization reaction at 60 degrees C for 1 hour. After completion of reaction, the resulting polymer was precipitated by pouring into large amount of methanol, followed by removal by filtration, washing and drying under reduced pressure at 120 degrees C for 6 hours to obtain test polymer P(7). The polymer had Mn of 405000 and molecular weight distribution of Mw/Mn of 1.42. A monomer A (5-(tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyl)-norbornene) (7.0 g) and monomer B (norbornene) (14.9 g) were dissolved in toluene (140 ml) in nitrogen-purged glass container. A separately prepared catalyst solution (i.e. solution dissolving, in toluene (15 ml), bis(acetylacetate)nickel (23 mg) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron (228 mg)) was added to monomer solution, followed by polymerization reaction at 25 degrees C for 2 hours. After completion of reaction, a comparative polymer P(26) having Mn of 253000 and molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 2.25. The test/control polymers were then subjected to film formation and the films formed were evaluated for breaking strength, elongation at break and oxygen permeation coefficient. The results for test/control polymer formed films were: breaking strength (MPa) = 25/58, elongation at break (%) = 15/less than 1; and oxygen permeation coefficient = 310/34. The results showed that the polymer P(7) formed film showing improved breaking strength, elongation at break and oxygen permeation coefficient.