The　kinetics　of　atom　transfer　radical　polymerization(ATRP)　of　methyl　methacrylate(MMA)　initiated　by　cellulose　based　macroinitator,　cellulose　chloroacetate,　performed　in　ionic　liquid(1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium　chloride,　BMIMCl),　dimethyl　sulfoxide(DMSO)　and　dimethyl　formamide(DMF)　were　respectively　studied　in　detail.　The　polymerizations　were　carried　out　under　homogeneous　conditions　with　CuBr　as　catalyst　and　2,2′-bipyridine(bpy)　as　ligand.　The　dependences　of　the　rate　of　polymerization　on　solvent,　temperature,　monomer/initiator　ratio　and　catalyst/ligand　ratio　were　presented.　Plots　of　ln([M]0/[M]t)　vs.　time　and　molecular　weight　vs.　conversion　showed　a　linear　dependence,　indicating　a　constant　number　of　propagating　species　throughout　the　polymerization　as　well　as　a　negligible　contribution　of　termination　or　transfer　reactions.　On　the　basis　of　an　Arrhenius　plot,　the　apparent　energy　of　activation(ΔE　a　app)　for　ATRP　of　MMA　in　BMIMCl　was　16.6　kJ/mol　which　is　much　lower　than　that　in　diphenyl　ether.　©　2013　Jilin　University,　The　Editorial　Department　of　Chemical　Research　in　Chinese　Universities　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH.