Transformation from preformed racemic helical poly(phenylacetylene)s to the enantioenriched helical polymers by chiral solvation, followed by removal of the chiral solvents

Homochiral or enantioenriched helical polymers are essential for investigating the relationship between chirality of helical structures and their performance in the design of various optically active functional polymers. We have succeeded in obtaining the helical poly(phenylacetylene)s poly(1)-poly(6) possessing no chiral moieties, except for helicity; the enantioenriched helical sense of these polymers was induced by transformation in chiral solvents, followed by removal of the chiral solvents, even if the interaction between the chiral molecule and the polymer was weak such as solvent-solute interaction. In particular, the newly synthesized poly(6) retained the induced helical sense even in an achiral solvent. Polymer Journal (2012) 44, 327-333; doi:10.1038/pj.2011.144; published online 18 January 2012