Methacrylic Polymers Bearing in the Side-Chain an Optically Active Moiety Linked to the trans-4-Azobenzene Chromophore: Chiroptical Properties of Poly[(S)-(+)-N-methyl-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyl)-4-aminoazobenzene]

The synthesis by radical homopolymerization of a novel optically active methacrylic polymer containing a side-chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic chromophore has been carried out starting from the related monomer trans-(S)-(+)-N-methyl-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyl)-4-aminoazobenzene. The chiroptical properties in solution of the polymer have been investigated by circular dichroism and compared with those of the corresponding low molecular weight model compound, trans-(S)-(+)-N-methyl-(2-pivaloyloxypropanoyl)-4-aminoazobenzene. The optical activity displayed by the polymer is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformations assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of dipole-dipole interactions between the azoaromatic chromophores.