Cyclic peroxides as initiators for the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate were proposed. The initial rates, initiation rates, and effective activation energies of polymerization initiated by cyclic peroxides and cyclic peroxide-1-pyridyl-2-ferrocene systems were determined. The radical yields to the volume upon the thermal decomposition of cyclic peroxides and their catalytic decomposition in the presence of 1-pyridyl-2-ferrocene were determined. In combination with 1-pyridyl-2-ferrocene cyclic peroxides form efficient initiating systems favoring an increase in the polymerization rate, a decrease in the molecular weights, and an increase in syndiotacticity of the synthesized poly(methyl methacrylate). © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.