NIR-sensitized photoinduced atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is possible by using ppm of Cu II /tris(2pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) as the catalyst, apolymethine as the photosensitizer,a nd a-bromophenylacetate as the alkyl halide initiator.A mong the polymethines investigated with cationic, zwitterionic,o ra nionic structures,o nly the zwitterionic 2 exhibited sensitization activity under NIR light at room temperature resulting in the formation of polymers with controlled molecular weight characteristics and functionalities. The barbital group placed at the meso-position of 2 caused the activity in this photo-ATRP framework. The chain-end fidelity of the polymers was confirmed by chain extension and block copolymerization experiments.T he polymerization system exhibits high photostability under NIR light exposure and irradiation dependency as demonstrated by light on/off experiments.