Studies on the optical active alternating copolymer of benzofuran or 1,3-cyclooctadiene with acrylic monomers

In the presence of an optical active amyloxyaluminum or menthoxyaluminum chloride the asymmetric-induction alternating copolymerization of benzofuran or 1,3-cyclooctadiene and acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile was investigated. The sign of optical rotation of copolymers was positive or negative, depending on the kind of catalyst used. The optical activity of copolymers of benzofuran and acrylonitrile attains a maximum value at an equimolar composition. The highest specific rotation α]_D of copolymers of benzofuran and acrylonitrile prepared in the presence of stoichiometric amount of (—)-menthoxyaluminum dichloride with respect to acrylonitrile was about ?8°. The stereo-structure of acrylonitrile unit may be controlled by the optical active aluminum compound onto which a strong coordination of acrylonitrile may occur.