A process for the synthesis of a granular polymer, the process comprising (a) providing an active polymerization mixture that includes polymer, monomer, catalyst and optional solvent; (b) introducing a hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound to the active polymerization mixture to thereby provide an inactive polymer mixture; (c) separating the polymer solution into a first stream and a second stream, where the first stream includes the polymer and the hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound, and the second stream includes the monomer and the optional solvent; and (d) fabricating granules from the first stream.