Helical Polymers: Synthesis, Structures, and Functions

The synthesis process, structures and functions of helical polymers was reviewed. The static and dynamic helical polymers differ through their helix inversion barriers. As a consequence, the former helical conformations are locked during the polymerization under kinetic control, while the latter helical conformations are thermodynamically controlled. It has also been studied that helical conformations of dynamic helical polymers can also be locked, as demonstrated by the unique memory effect observed in dynamic helical poly(phenylacetylene)s and poly(phenyl isocyanide)s induced by chiral guest molecules. In addition, either static or dynamic helical polymers with an excess single-handedness can be prepared by the polymerization of monomers with the identical framework, but bearing different substituents. Apart from the breadth of single-stranded helical polymers and oligomers, the design and synthetic strategies for doublestranded helical polymers and oligomers remain limited, regardless of the natural model, the double-helical DNA.