Poly(pyrroles) containing chiral side chains: effect of substituents on the chiral recognition in the doped as well as in the undoped state of the polymer film

The chiral discrimination of different poly(pyrroles) grafted by chiral side chains was investigated both in the doped and undoped state of the polymer films. To verify the enantioselective properties in the doped state, cyclic voltammograms were recorded in acetonitrile in the presence of the enantiomers of camphorsulfonic acid and the potentiodynamic polymerization of the appropriate monomers was performed using the same chiral electrolytes. The enantiomericrecognition in the undoped state was investigated by the application of these modified electrode surfaces in the enantio selective electroreduction of the prochiral ketones 4-methyl benzophenone and 2,5-dimethyl benzophenone. One polymer exhibits a recognition ability in the doped state; the investigation for the undoped state is in progress. A second polymer does not show enantioselective properties either in the doped nor in the undoped state.