Chirality induction in cyclopolymerization

Abstract

An overview of the synthesis of optically active polymers due to main-chain chirality based on the configurational arrangement in cyclopolymerization and cyclocopolymerization is presented. The template having chiral twist transmitted its chirality to the main chain in the intramolecular cyclization of divinyl monomers to form the enantiomeric racemo cyclic units. The asymmetric cyclocopolymerization produced the polymers which were optically active even after cleaving the template. The synthesis of optically active polymers from achiral monomers using a slight amount of chiral initiator was achieved by the enantioselective cyclopolymerization. The cyclopolymerization capable of controlling stereochemistry of the cyclic constitutional units was one of useful means for asymmetric polymerization.