| Abstract: | Radical copolymerizations of mono- and di-l-menthyl fumarate ( 1 and 2 ) with styrene (St) were carried out, and the copolymers were hydrolyzed with potassium hydroxide. The products show still optical activity even after the removal of the optically active side chain, because of an introduction of asymmetry into the main chain of the copolymer. The specific rotation per one of the diad sequences of hydrolyzed poly( 1 -co-St) was the same as that of hydrolyzed poly( 2 -co-St). The mechanism of asymmetric induction and the position of the new asymmetric center are discussed based on the measurements of UV spectra, optical rotation, and circular dichroism. |
