N-alkyl-substituted itaconimides (RII) and N-(alkyl-substituted phenyl)itaconimides (RPhII) with various alkyl substituents were prepared and polymerized in the presence of a radical or anionic initiator to give high molecular weight polymers in high yields. The effects of the alkyl substituents on the polymerization reactivities were investigated. It has been revealed that RII and RPhII have the highest polymerization reactivity compared with other itaconic and citraconic derivatives including dialkyl itaconates and citraconimides. The structure and some properties of poly (RII) and poly (RPhII) were examined. These polymers were found to have excellent thermal stability, better than poly(dialkyl itaconate)s.