A method is disclosed for the catalytic polymerization of cyanoacrylate monomers by contacting said monomers with an organotin compound. Also included is a polymerizable system comprising cyanoacrylate monomer and an organotin compound, wherein upon contact of the monomer and the compound, the compound catalyzes the polymerization of the monomer. The organotin compound will have the formula R.sub.3 SnX (I), where each R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl or aryl and X is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, hydrogen, hydroxide or alkylcarboxyl, or the formula R.sub.2 R'.sub.s Sn (II), where each R is alkyl and each R' is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, hydrogen, hydroxide or alkylcarboxyl. In each compound all substituents of the same chemical type may be the same species or two or more may be different species from each other, provided, however, that if in compound II both R and R' are of the same chemical type, each of the R substituents must be a different species from each of the R' substituents. The compounds may also be reacted or complexed with sulfur compounds, such as mercapto acid salts or mercaptides. Preferably R, R' and X are all C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, more preferably normal alkyl.