Retraction of "Mechanical reconfiguration of stereoisomers".

Abstract

Poly(methyl acrylate) of varying molecular weight was grown from the enantiopure ditopic initiator (R)- or (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-bis-(2-bromoisobutyrate). Subjecting CH3CN solutions of high-molecular-weight derivatives (MN > 25 kDa) to sonication at 0 °C resulted in >95% racemization after 24 h, as determined by circular dichroism; no appreciable racemization was observed in low-molecular-weight derivatives. Control experiments excluded the possibility of a thermal racemization mechanism.