Helix‐Sense‐Selective Polymerization of Achiral Bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetylenes Bearing Alkyl Groups of Different Lengths

Abstract

Abstract4‐Alkyloxy‐3,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetylenes with eight types of alkyl groups were synthesized and polymerized with a chiral catalytic system. We found that the length of the alkyl groups played a very important role in achieving helix‐sense‐selective polymerization. Five helix‐sense‐selective polymerizations were achieved resulting in polymers with alkyl groups whose chain length was longer than six. We think that the longer‐chain alkyl groups prevented the polymers from becoming insoluble by forming intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl groups, and stabilized their one‐handed helical structure by promoting the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds.magnified image