Novel polymeric photoinitiator based on Michler's ketone (MK) (PMKPR) was synthesized by introducing coinitiator amine and MK into the same polymeric chain as well as the low-molecular weight model compounds. UV-vis spectra show that PMKPR has the characteristic UV-vis absorption of MK. The photobleaching behavior of PMKPR and the model compounds were studied, indicating that the photobleaching rate of PMKPR is much faster than that of model compounds. Two types of monomer with different functionality, 2,2-bis[4-(acryloxypolyethoxy)phenyl] propane (A-BPE-10) and trimethylopropane triacrylate (TMPTA), were chosen to be initiated by these photoinitiators. The result indicates that PMKPR is an efficient photoinitiator for polymerization of A-BPE-10 and TMPTA. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 49:1608-1615, 2009. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers