Preparation and photochemical study of soluble optically active block copolymethacrylates and azo-containing random copolymethacrylates

A series of soluble optically active block copolymers of trityl methacrylate (TrMA) and cyclohexyldiphenylmethyl methacrylate (CHDPMA) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl methacrylate (n-BuMA) were synthesized using the complex of 9-fluorenyllithium and (S,S)-(+)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino)butane as an initiator in toluene at −78°C. Soluble optically active random copolymers derived from TrMA and azo methacrylates, 6-(4-phenylazophenoxy)hexyl methacrylate (PAHM) and 2-(4-phenylazophenoxy)ethyl methacrylate (PAEM), were obtained under similar anionic polymerization conditions. Optical activities of the copolymers largely depended on the weight percentage of TrMA or CHDPMA component in the polymer chains. Solubility and film formability were significantly improved for the copolymers. Irradiation of optically active TrMA–MMA and CHDPMA–MMA block copolymer films containing photoacid, diphenyl-p-tolylsulfonium triflate, causes the partial hydrolysis of bulky esters and results in the conformational randomization of helical chains, which in turn leads to a significant change in optical rotation of the films. Photoisomerization studies of azo-containing random copolymers indicate that the trans to cis isomerization induces the helical conformation racemization in solution. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Asymmetric induction copolymerization of optically active l-menthyl vinyl ether with styrene and N-phenylmaleimide

The copolymerizations of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with styrene (St) and N-phenylmaleimide (N-PMI) as comonomers were carried out in benzene with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to give optically active copolymers. After the removal of the optically active menthyl group by use of hydrogen bromide gas, the ether-cloven l-MVE-N-PMI copolymer (VA-N-PMI) was still optically active. On the other hand, the optical activity of l-MVE-St copolymer disappeared after ether cleavage. It is thought that asymmetric induction took place in the polymer main chains. The optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the original and ether-cloven copolymers were measured in order to confirm the asymmetric induction.     

Asymmetric induction radical copolymerization of optically active l-menthyl vinyl ether with vinylene carbonate and indene

The copolymerizations of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with the monomers vinylene carbonate (VCA) and indene (IN) were carried out in benzene with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to obtain optically active copolymers. The optically active l-menthyl residue from the copolymer main chain was removed using dry hydrogen bromide gas. After the ether cleavage reaction, the copolymers prepared (VA–VCA and VA–IN) were still optically active, and hence it was found that asymmetric induction had taken place in the copolymer main chain. The optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) data of the original and ether-cloven copolymers were also determined.     

Radical copolymerization of optically active l-menthyl vinyl ether with maleic anhydride,dimethyl maleate,and dimethyl fumarate

The copolymerizations of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with the monomers, that is, maleic anhydride (MAn), dimethyl maleate (DMM), and dimethyl fumarate (DMFu), were undertaken to obtain optically active copolymers. The optically active l-menthyl group in the side chain of copolymers was removed by the ether cleavage reaction with dry-hydrogen bromide gas. The ethercloven copolymers were still optically active. Hence it was concluded that asymmetric carbon atoms were introduced into the copolymer main chain, the reason given being that l-MVE and comonomers (MAn, DMM, and DMFu) made the stereoselective charge-transfer complex one another and copolymerized stereospecifically. From the results of the measurements of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) for copolymers before and after the ether cleavage reaction, the mode of bond opening for α,β-substituted monomers (MAn, DMM, and DMFu) was discussed and the microstructures of copolymers were prepared.     

Hydrogen-transfer polymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide with optically active basic catalysts

Hydrogen-transfer polymerization of acrylamide and Methacrylamide with an optically active amyl alcoholate or n-amyl alcoholate (sodium, calcium, magnesium, barium, and aluminum) was investigated to 100°C in toluene. The initiation ability of the metal ion of the initiator increased in the order, sodium > barium > calcium > magnesium > aluminum. The optically active polymer was obtained by the polymerization of methacrylamide with an optically active alcoholate (barium or calcium), but was not obtained by the other alcoholates and by the polymerization of acrylamide with the optically active alcoholate. The specific rotation of the optically active polymer obtained was about +1.1° ～ +1.3°. The hydrolyzed product of the optically active polymer was α-methyl β-alanine having optical activity (+1.0°). The initiation mechanisms of the polymerization were thought to be the dehydrogenation of the monomer of the negative ion and the Michael addition reaction with the monomer of the negative ion and the catalyst, and it was confirmed that the optically active polymer was prepared by intermolecular hydrogen transfer mechanism. In the polymerization of MMA with menthol barium and borneol barium as the optically active catalyst, the optically active polymer was obtained.     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined optically active methacrylic diblock copolymers

A new, simple, and cost‐effective approach toward the development of well‐defined optically active diblock copolymers based on methacrylate monomers is described for the first time. Starting from the low‐cost optically active (S)‐(?)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butanol, a new optically active methacrylic monomer, namely, (S)‐(+)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butyl methacrylate [(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA], was synthesized. Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization was then used for preparing well‐defined poly[(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA] homopolymers and water‐soluble diblock copolymers based on [(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA] and the hydrophilic and ionizable monomer 2‐(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The respective homopolymers and diblock copolymers were characterized in terms of their molecular weights, polydispersity indices, and compositions by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Polarimetry measurements were used to determine the specific optical rotations of these systems. The structural and compositional characteristics of micellar nanostructures possessing an optically active core generated by p((S)‐(+)‐MBuMA)‐b‐p(DMAEMA) chains characterized by predetermined molecular characteristics may be easily tuned to match biological constructs. Consequently, the aggregation behavior of the p[(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA]‐b‐p[DMAEMA] diblock copolymers was investigated in aqueous media by means of dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy, which revealed the formation of micelles in neutral and acidified aqueous solutions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Asymmetric selective copolymerization of propylene oxide with d-camphoric acid anhydride

The ring-opening copolymerization of propylene oxide with d-camphoric acid anhydride [α]_D ?3.4° was carried out with diethylzinc and triethylamine as catalysts. It was found that the products were alternating copolymers which were optically active. The optical rotatory dispersion curves were found to fit a simple Drude equation having a λ_c value of 201 mμ. The specific rotation increased with increasing intrinsic viscosity of the product. The propylene oxide recovered from the polymerization system was optically active. Its specific rotation increased with increasing polymerization time. It is thought that the asymmetric selective copolymerization of propylene oxide is caused by the influence of the optically active camphoryl group of the polymer end.     

Helix‐sense‐selective copolymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate with chiral 2‐isopropenyl‐4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline

The asymmetric induction leading to a one‐handed helix was investigated in the anionic and radical copolymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate (TrMA) and (S)‐2‐isopropenyl‐4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline ((S)‐IPO), and highly isotactic copolymers with a reasonable optical activity were obtained. In the anionic copolymerization, the optical activity of the obtained copolymers depended on the polarity of solvents, and a highly optically active copolymer was produced in the copolymerization in toluene. The chiral oxazoline monomer functioned not only as a comonomer but also as a chiral ligand to endow the polymer with large negative optical rotation in the copolymerization with TrMA. The copolymers with small positive optical rotation were obtained in THF, indicating that IPO unit may work only as the chiral monomer that dictates the helical sense via copolymerization with TrMA. The isotacticity of the obtained copolymers depended on the contents of TrMA units in the copolymers, but was almost independent of the solvent for copolymerization. In the radical copolymerization, the obtained copolymers exhibited small optical activities. It seemed that the chiral monomer cannot induce one‐handed helical structure of TrMA sequences even if the sequences probably have a high isotacticity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 441–447     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain photochromic moieties. Synthesis and chiroptical properties of copolymers of trans-N(4-azobenzene)-maleimide with (−)-menthyl vinyl ether and (+)(S)-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether

The copolymers of trans-N(4-azobenzene)-maleimide (ABM) with optically active alkyl vinyl ethers, such as (?)-menthyl vinyl ether (MtVE) and (+)S-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether (MBVE), have been prepared either by direct copolymerization or by functionalization with trans-4-amino-azobenzene of the corresponding alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride with MtVE and MBVE. The chiroptical properties of the above copolymers have been studied by CD measurements. The induced optical activity on the side-chain trans-azobenzene moieties is discussed in terms of different conformational rigidity of the macromolecules.     

Synthesis of new smectic C* liquid-crystalline block copolymers

A series of smectic C^* liquid-crystalline (LC) block copolymers were successfully synthesized via the living anionic polymerization of polystyrene with optically active methacrylate monomers containing (S)-2-methylbutyl 4-(4-hydroxyphenylcarbonyloxy)-biphenyl-4′-carboxylate mesogens. These materials are the first reported smectic C^* block copolymers. Anionic polymerization in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −70°C leads to LC block molecular weights of approximately twenty repeating units. The number-average molecular weight of the polystyrene block was varied from 7000 to 20000 to adjust the composition in the block copolymers. Differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy indicate that the smectic C^* phase is present in the systems over broad temperature ranges.     

Total Synthesis and Electrophysiological Properties of Natural (−)-Perhydrohistrionicotoxin,its Unnatural (+)-Antipode and their 2-Depentyl Analogs

Natural (?)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 6a ), its unnatural (+)-antipode 6b , (?)-2-depentylperhydrohistrionicotoxin ( 7a ) and its (+)-antipode 7b have been prepared and characterized. Kishi's lactam 8 reacted with optically active iso-cyanates, and the mixture of diastereomeric carbamates so obtained was separated and hydrolyzed yielding the optical antipodes of Kishi's lactam in optically pure form. Reduction with LiAlH₄ yielded the optically active 2-depentyl analogs, while another sequence already developed in the racemic series afforded the natural toxin and its (+)-antipode. Some electrophysiological properties of these compounds are presented.     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain photochromic moieties: Synthesis and chiroptical properties of copolymers of trans-4-(phenylazo)-1-naphthyl acrylate and trans-4-(1-naphthylazo)-phenyl acrylate with (?)-menthyl acrylate

The synthesis of photochromic optically active copolymers from trans-4-(phenylazo)-1-naphthyl acrylate (PANA), or trans-4-(1-naphthylazo)-phenyl acrylate (NAPA), and (?)-menthyl acrylate (MtA) is described. The copolymers prepared, having different contents of trans-phenylazonaphthalene moieties, have been characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, UV, and GPC techniques. The chiroptical properties have been investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and the induced optical activity on the side-chain trans-phenylazonaphthalene chromophores discussed in terms of different conformational situations of the macromolecules in both the copolymer series. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Asymmetric interaction of optically active polymers with asymmetric small molecules. IV. Effect of hydrophobic groups on asymmetric interaction

In order to investigate the mechanism of the asymmetric interaction between optically active polymers and small molecules, optically active copolymers of N-acrylyl L-amino acids(N-acrylyl-L -phenylalanine, N-acrylyl-L -tryptophan, and N-acrylyl-L -leucine, respectively) and N,N′-hexamethylene diacrylylamide were synthesized, and interaction of these polymers with the optical isomers of phenylalanine and tryptophan was investigated. In the interaction of these acidic polymers with amino acids performed at pH 5.0, significant difference in amount of adsorption between the D and L isomers of amino acids were observed, and the L form of amino acids was adsorbed preferentially. The interaction between optically active small molecules was also investigated: these results showed a similarity to the results for interaction between optically active polymers and amino acids. In some instances of asymmetric interaction the influence of hydrophobic interaction between a polymer and substrate was clearly perceived. The stereoselective effects on the asymmetric interaction are discussed.     

Asymmetric induction copolymerization. Cationic copolymerization of l-menthyl vinyl ether with indene and acenaphthylene

l-Menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) was homopolymerized and copolymerized with the monomers indene (IN) and acenaphthylene (ANp) by BF₃OEt₂ as a catalyst. The chiral menthyl substituent was cloven from the homopolymers and copolymers using dry-hydrogen bromide gas. After the removal of optically active menthyl group, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) from l-MVE homopolymer was optically inactive, and copolymers (VA-IN, VA-ANp) from l-MVE-IN and l-MVE-ANp copolymers were still optically active. Hence, in the case of l-MVE homopolymer, it was concluded that asymmetric induction in the polymer main chain can only produce pseudoasymmetry. In the case of l-MVE-IN and l-MVE-ANp copolymers, it was found that asymmetric induction proceeded in the copolymer main chain and was caused by the influence of chiral menthyl group.     

Synthesis and polymerization of N-[N′-(α-methylbenzyl)aminocarbonyl-n-alkyl]maleimide

Two types of optically active N-[N′-(α-methylbenzyl)amino/carbonyl-n-alkyl]maleimides (MBAC) were synthesized from maleic anhydride, 6-amino-n-caproic acid (or 12-amino-n-dodecanoic acid), and (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine. Radical homopolymerizations of MBAC were performed in several solvents at 60 and 110°C for 24 h to give optically active polymers. Radical copolymerizations of MBAC were performed with styrene (ST) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in dioxane at 60°C. The monomer reactivity ratios and the Alfrey-Price Q-e values were determined. Chiroptical properties of the polymers and copolymers were investigated. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and characterization of optically active polymers containing pendent and terminal chiral units via atom transfer radical polymerization

Optically active homopolymers and copolymers, bearing chiral units at the side chain and end chain, were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) techniques. The well‐defined optically active polymers were obtained via the ATRP of pregnenolone methacrylate (PR‐MA), β‐cholestanol acrylate (CH‐A), and 20‐(hydroxymethyl)‐pregna‐1,4‐dien‐3‐one acrylate (HPD‐A) with ethyl 2‐bromopropionate as the initiator and CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as the catalytic system. The experimental results showed that the polymerizations of PR‐MA, CH‐A, and HPD‐A proceeded in a living fashion, providing pendent chiral group polymers with low molecular weight distributions and predetermined molecular weights that increased linearly with the monomer conversion. Furthermore, the copolymers poly(pregnenolone methacrylate)‐b‐poly[(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] and poly(pregnenolone methacrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate) were synthesized and characterized with ¹H NMR, transmission electron microscopy, and polarimetric analysis. In addition, when optically active initiators estrone 2‐bromopropionate and 20‐(hydroxymethyl)‐pregna‐1,4‐dien‐3‐one 2‐bromopropionate were used for ATRPs of methyl methacrylate and styrene, terminal optically active poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene were obtained. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1502–1513, 2006     

Optically active poly(amide–imide)s containing axially dissymmetric 1,1′-binaphthyl moieties

Novel optically active aromatic poly(amide–imide)s (PAIs) were prepared from newly synthesized 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxybenzamido)-1,1′-binaphthyl dianhydride ((+ )-, (S)-, and (R)-BNDADA). PAIs based on dianhydride monomers with different ee % were investigated with respect to their structures and chiroptical properties. These polymers were highly soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, pyridine, etc., and showed high glass transition temperatures of 287–290°C and 5% weight loss temperatures of 450–465°C in nitrogen. Optically active PAIs exhibited high specific rotations, excellent optical stabilities, and a dependence of optical activities on temperature. Investigations on chiroptical properties indicated that chiral conformation was possessed by optically active PAIs. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3147–3154, 1999     

Free-radical copolymerization of L-(—)-menthyl methacrylate with acetylphenyl (meth)acrylates

The free-radical copolymerization of L-(—)-menthyl methacrylate with o- and p-acetylphenyl (meth)acrylates is performed to obtain new carbonyl-containing optically active copolymers. It is shown that the reactivity ratios and the yield of copolymers are lower for o-acetylphenyl methacrylate than those for the corresponding para isomer because of the steric hindrance from acetyl substituents in phenyl rings. The optical activity of the synthesized copolymers is estimated.     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain azobenzene moieties: Photochromic and photoresponsive behavior of copolymers of N-(4-azobenzene) maleimide with (−)-menthyl vinyl ether and (+) (S)-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether

Photochromic behavior and photoisomerization kinetics of optically active copolymers of trans-N-(4-azobenzene) maleimide (ABM) with (?) -menthyl vinyl ether (MtVE) and (+) (S) -2-methylbutyl vinyl ether were studied by UV spectroscopy under irradiation at 348 nm. The resulting data have been compared with those of the corresponding copolymers containing also trans-N-(4-azobenzene) maleamic acid co-units as well as of low molecular weight model compounds. The photoresponsive behavior has been also investigated by circular dichroism measurements at various extents of photoisomerization. The results are discussed in terms of structural requirements of the macromolecules. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Crystallization-Driven Asymmetric Helical Assembly of Conjugated Block Copolymers and the Aggregation Induced White-light Emission and Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Controlling the self-assembly morphology of π-conjugated block copolymer is of great interesting. Herein, amphiphilic poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(phenyl isocyanide)s (P3HT-b-PPI) copolymers composed of π-conjugated P3HT and optically active helical PPI segments were readily prepared. Taking advantage of the crystallizable nature of P3HT and the chirality of the helical PPI segment, crystallization-driven asymmetric self-assembly (CDASA) of the block copolymers lead to the formation of single-handed helical nanofibers with controlled length, narrow dispersity, and well-defined helicity. During the self-assembly process, the chirality of helical PPI was transferred to the supramolecular assemblies, giving the helical assemblies large optical activity. The single-handed helical assemblies of the block copolymers exhibited interesting white-light emission and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). The handedness and dissymmetric factor of the induced CPL can be finely tuned through the variation on the helicity and length of the helical nanofibers.