Photo-induced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of acrylonitrile was performed in a two-component system using 2-cyano-2-propyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate as the initiation-regulator dual-functional agent. The polymerization was carried out under mild conditions, e.g. under irradiation of blue light-emitting diode light at ambient temperature. Well-controlled polymers with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were obtained. The light on and off experiments showed photosensitivity of this polymerization system. The structure of the obtained polymers was characterized by GPC and NMR Polymers with molecular weight as high as M-n = 286,300 g/mol could be obtained in optimized conditions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.