Certain complexes containing ligands having a phosphino group, amino group or an imino group, and a second functional group such as amide, ester or ketone, when complexed to transition metals, catalyze the (co)polymerization of olefinic compounds such as ethylene, null-olefins and/or acrylates. A newly recognized class of ligands for making copolymer containing polar monomers using late transition metal complexes is described.