Bisbenzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethanone (BBDOM), a type of hydrogen-abstraction photoinitiator, exhibited redshifted maximal absorption in comparison with benzophenone (BP) according to ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. The kinetics of photopolymerization of the photoinitiator in different systems was studied with real-time infrared spectroscopy. The concentration of BBDOM, the components of the initiator, and the functionality of the monomer had great effects on the kinetics of photopolymerization. The results show that BBDOM is a more effective photoinitiator than BP. BBDOM consists of cyclic acetals that are widely distributed in nature, and with BBDOM, the use of large numbers of amines can be avoided in the system without the requirement of an additional hydrogen donor. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 2754-2759, 2011