The effect of LiCl on the anionic polymerization of tert-butyl methacrylate (tBuMA) initiated with monofunctional alkali metal-based carbanionic species was investigated at -78-degrees-C in THF. The propagation rate of the polymerization process was determined by gas chromatography and by gravimetry. It was found that, in the presence of LiCl in a molar ratio of 5 with respect to the initiator, the rate constant, k(p), is 20 times lower than that in the absence of LiCl. The polymers and oligomers were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The polymers obtained in the absence of LiCl had broad molecular weight distributions and contained significant amounts of oligomers, while those obtained in the presence of LiCl were monodisperse, without any noticeable oligomers. C-13 NMR showed that the isotactic content of the polymers increased significantly when the molar ratio of LiCl to the initiator was higher than 2. The effect of LiCl on the rate constant and on the microstructure of the polymers was attributed to complex formation between LiCl and the living polymer chains.