Synthesis of the Benzoxazine based benzophenone (BPBnzx) initiator was achieved and used in free radical photopolymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) in the absence and presence of a tertiary amine. The results confirmed that BPBnzx presents a one-component nature. BPBnzx has better absorption properties compared with BP itself and the one-component characteristic of the BPBnzx initiator was confirmed by incorporation of the BPBnzx unit into the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) main chain, using UV spectroscopy and phosphorescence measurements. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers