The present invention relates to processes for synthesis of poly(meth)acrylate compositions, wherein ethylenically unsaturated monomers are transformed to polymers by means of initiators containing a transferable group of atoms and of one or more catalysts comprising at least one transition metal in the presence of ligands which can form a coordination compound with the metal catalyst or catalysts, wherein ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing 50 to 100 wt %, relative to the total weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, of (meth)acrylates of formula (I) are polymerized ##STR1## wherein R denotes hydrogen or methyl, R.sup.1 denotes a straight-chain or branched alkyl group with 8 to 40, carbon atoms, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently denote hydrogen or a group of the formula --COOR.sup.1, wherein R' denotes hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched alkyl group with 8 to 40, carbon atoms, in the presence of copper, the total concentration of copper of oxidation numbers (I) and (II) in the polymerization composition being .ltoreq.200 ppm relative to the total weight of the composition.