Two types of optically active itaconamates, alpha-ethyl beta-N-((R)-alpha’-methylbenzyl)itaconamate (MBEI) and alpha-N-((R)-alpha’-methylbenzyl)beta-ethyl itaconamate (EMBI) were synthesized from itaconic anhydride, (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine and ethanol. Radical polymerizations of MBEI and EMBI were performed in bulk and in several solvents at 50 to 130 degrees C. But only bulk polymerization gave appreciably optically active polymers. It was found that MBEI has higher polymerization reactivity than EMBI. Radical copolymerizations of MBEI(M(1)) (EMBI(M(1))) were performed with styrene (ST, M(2)), methyl methacrylate (MMA, M(2)), or N-phenylmaleimide (PhMI, M(2)) in benzene at 60 degrees C. The monomer reactivity ratios (r(1),r(2)) and Alfrey-Price Q-e values were determined as follows : r(1)=0.35, r(2)=0.14 (MBEI/ST), r(1)=0.03, r(2)=1.12(EMBI/ST), r(1)=0.02, r(2)=2.39 (EMBI/MMA), r(1)=4.35, r(2)=0.17 (MBEI/PhMI), r(1)=1.04, r(2)=0.13 (EMBI/PhMI), Q=1.80, e=0.94 for MBEI, Q=0.21, e=1.04 for EMBI. Chiroptical properties of homopolymers and copolymers were also investigated.