1-(Isobutoxy)ethyl methacrylate (BOEMA) was prepared by the reaction between isobutyl vinyl ether and methacrylic acid. It can be used both as an initiator for the cationic polymerization of vinyl ether and as a monomer that can undergo anionic polymerization. Using zinc chloride as activator, BOEMA can induce the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether or ethyl vinyl ether in toluene at 0 degrees C to generate an end-functional polymer. On the other hand, BOEMA can be polymerized itself by using(1,1-diphenylhexyl)lithium as an initiator, in tetrahydrofuran, at -60 degrees C, in the presence or absence of lithium chloride. The poly(BOEMA) obtained possesses a very narrow molecular weight distribution ((M) over bar(w)/(M) over bar(n) = 1.04-1.09). It can also be employed as a macroinitiator for the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether or ethyl vinyl ether, by using zinc chloride as activator in toluene at 0 degrees C. Thus a graft copolymer consisting of polymethacrylate as the main chain and poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) or poly(ethyl vinyl ether) as side chains can be prepared.