The effect of helix formation in the macromolecules during synthesis, on the MWD of a polyurea from the ethyl ester of L-lysine

Abstract

The correlation has been found between the extent of formation of a helical conformation of the macromolecules, and the molecular weight distribution of an optically active polyurea, prepared in different solvents. It was found that the helical fraction varies within the limits of the MWD, increasing as the chain length increases. It is suggested that this can be attributed to a non-linear relationship between the free energy of the macromolecules and their molecular weight, and the consequent departure from the principle of independence of the reactivity of the functional groups, whereby the MWD becomes narrower than the most probable distribution.