Abstract
Helix is the most important, interesting structure for polymers. One-handed helical structure can be optically active without any other chiral factors. This review describes mainly the synthesis, structure, and utilization of helical polymers obtained from both chiral and achiral monomers. The monomers dealt with here include methacrylates, isocyanides, chloral, and isocyanates. Triarylmethyl methacrylates afford helical polymers by anionic polymerization. Some of the polymers slowly change their helicity in solution. Application of the polymers as chiral stationary phases to separate optical isomers is discussed. Bulky isocyanides and chloral give optically active polymers which have the chirality arising only from helicity. Polyisocyanates leads to a large optical activity due to a cooperative deuterium isotope effect. These are also surveyed with an emphasis on the helicity.
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