Vibrational overtone activated polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) has been demonstrated using two initiators, benzoyl peroxide (BP), and 2,2'-(azobis)isobutyronitrile (AIBN). Excitation of the fifth vibrational overtone of the CH stretch of AIBN at 627 nm and BP at 604 nm initiates the reaction. Monomer conversions were monitored by a gravimetric method. In both cases, the wavelength selectivity was investigated by irradiating the monomer/initiator mixtures at the absorption maximum of the initiator, the absorption maximum of the monomer, and at a wavelength (580 nm for AN/AIBN and 625 nm for AN/BP) where neither the initiator nor the monomer absorbs light. For the AN/AIBN mixture, after 48 h the monomer conversion for the irradiation on the peak absorption of AIBN (627 nm) is about twice as large as the irradiation at 580 nm. For the AN/BP mixture, after 48 h the monomer conversion for the irradiation on the peak absorption of BP (604 nm) is about a factor of 2.2 larger than for the irradiation at 625 nm. The overall quantum yields of both polymerizations were estimated. After 48 h the overall quantum yield for the AN/AIBN mixture irradiated at the initiator absorption (Phi(627)=21083) is about 10 times larger than for the sample irradiated at the pure monomer absorption (Phi(595)=1942). For the AN/BP mixture, the 604 nm quantum yield (Phi(604)=1096) is about 2.4 times larger than the 595 nm quantum yield (Phi(595)=448). The influence of the initiator concentration is also presented. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.