Process for preparing polyacrylates, by the free-radical polymerization of monomer mixtures comprising at least 70% by weight of at least one acrylic and/or methacrylic ester in the presence of amino acids as regulator substances, and reaction solution comprising one or more solvents and one or more monomers, at least 50% by weight of the solvents being organic solvents, and at least 70% by weight of the monomers being acrylic and/or methacrylic esters, with at least one amino acid being present.