When 8-hydroxyquinoline and derivatives of bis(8-hydroxy--quinoline) react with metal ions, coordination complexes and polymers are formed, respectively, which exhibit improved thermal stability. This paper reviews the reaction of first--row transition metal ions with such ligands and their effect on the stabilization of these organic molecules. For the polymers containing divalent Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn the decomposition temperature is related to the periodic properties of the metal as well as the composition of the ligand to which the metal is coordinated. Trivalent chromium produces a crosslinked polymer when it reacts with bis(8-hydroxy-5-quinolyl)methane, and the thermogram for this polymer is also reported.