The invention is a system for initiating free radical polymerization comprising: a) in one part, one or more amido-borate compounds containing one or more anionic amido-borate moieties comprising an organoborate wherein the boron atom is bonded to a nitrogen atom of ammonia or an organic compound containing one or more nitrogen atoms, such as a hydrocarbyl amine, a hydrocarbyl polyamine, or an aromatic heterocycle containing one or more nitrogen atoms and optionally containing one or more heteroatoms or heteroatom containing functional moieties, and one or more cationic counter ions and b) in a second part, a liberating compound which reacts with the nitrogen atom(s) bound to the boron atom(s) upon contact with the amido-borate to form an organoborane radical.