To obtain a high polymer coated Fe(0) surface, gas-phase-assisted surface polymerization (GASP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was investigated using a zero-valent iron (Fe(0))/p-toluene sulfonylchloride (TsCl) initiator system, resulting in successful high polymer production on the solid surface. GASP was found to be initiated by radical species that might have been generated via redox reactions with Fe(0), Fe(II), Fe(III), and TsCl. From H-1-NMR analysis, the p-toluene sulfonyl group was found at one end of the polymer chain. The molecular weight of obtained PMMA drastically decreased with increase in the composition ratio of Fe(0) in the initiator system, and increased with increase in polymer yield. From the results, it was assumed that the physically controlled polymerization of MMA proceeded by immobilized active species at gas-solid interfaces. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.