AbstractPolymerization of vinyl monomers having large negative e values in the presence of phosphorus compounds containing halogens was studied in order to examine the cationic initiation ability of phosphorus compounds. N‐Vinylcarbazole was effectively polymerized by phosphorus compounds such as PCI3, PBr3, PCI2C6H5, PCI(C6H5)2, POCI3, and POCI2C6H5 even in benzene. The initiation ability of phosphorus compounds decreased in the order; PCI2 ≃ PBr3 > PCI2C6H5 > PCI(C6H5)2, and also POCI3 > POCI265. On the other hand, PCI3 and PBr3, which were less effective than POCI3, showed initiation ability for the polymerizations of styrene and α‐methylstyrene in nitrobenzene as a solvent. The results of the copolymerization of styrene with methyl methacrylate by PCI3 in nitrobenzene, the result of solvent dielectric constant effect, and the effect of additives such as water, tert‐butyl chloride, triethylamine, and hydroquinone, indicate the polymerization of styrene by PCI3 to proceed by a cationic mechanism.