Abstract: | Infrared (IR) investigation of structurally analogous optically active polymers such as poly[(S)-5-methyl-1-heptene (1)] and poly[(S)-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether (2)] was carried out in the solid state, in the molten state, and in solution. Vibrational data are in accordance with the existence of helical conformations in solution and in the molten state for both polymers, confirming the previous suggestions based on optical rotation measurements. In particular, an accurate examination of the spectral region between 850 and 700 cm?1, where characteristic absorptions of the sec-butyl group occur, enables us to assign the medium intensity band at 827 cm?1 (present in both polymers in the solid state) to the GTTG?T conformation of the side chains. |