Synthesis of helical polybinaphthyls

Novel helical polybinaphthyls have been designed and synthesized by using an acid-promoted intramolecular cyclization of arylalkynes. The structures of these polymers are characterized by various spectroscopic methods including NMR, UV, FL, and CD. Because of the restricted rotation in their repeat units, these polymers are expected to have a well-defined helical chain structure. The molecular weight effect on the optical properties of such a polymer was studied. Significantly increased fluorescence sensitivity toward an amino alcohol quencher over the parent 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol was also observed.