We　demonstrate　for　the　first　time　the　feasibility　in　conducting　the　graft　copolymerization　of　methylmethacrylate　(MMA)　with　cellulose　by　the　means　of　the　reversible　addition-fragmentation　chain　transfer　(RAFT)　polymerization　in　an　ionic　liquid　[1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium　chloride]　(BMIMCl).　Cellulose　was　first　converted　to　a　macromolecular　chain　transfer　agent　to　which　MMA　was　grafted　by　RAFT　in　BMIMCl.　The　success　of　the　occurrence　of　different　reactions　was　validated　by　elemental　analyses,　Fourier　transform　infrared　and　nuclear　magnetic　resonance　spectroscopies.　The　results　demonstrate　that　the　MMA　polymer　chains　were　grafted　onto　the　cellulose　while　the　use　of　the　ionic　liquid　as　a　reaction　medium　enhanced　the　polymerization　rate　to　a　moderate　extent.　Gel　permeation　chromatography　analysis　of　poly(MMA)　chains　cleaved　from　the　cellulose　by　acidic　hydrolysis　indicated　low　polydispersity　indices　(ca.　1.3)　that　were　consistent　with　the　＇living＇　nature　of　the　RAFT.　©　2012　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.　J.　Appl.　Polym.　Sci.,　2013　Copyright　©　2012　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.