Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl acrylate in the presence of a conventional radical initiator (2,2'-azoisobutyronitrile, AIBN) in bulk was successfully implemented via a new polymerization procedure. The system first reacts at 65-70 degrees C for ten hours, then polymerizes at 100 degrees C. Various mole ratios of AIBN to (CuCl2)-Cl-II were used in this work, all of which result in a well-controlled radical polymerization with high initiation efficiency and narrow molecular weight distribution, i.e., the polydispersity is as low as (M) over bar(w)/(M) over bar(n) = 1.36.