ASYMMETRIC INDUCTION COPOLYMERIZATION OF CHIRAL N-(R-ALPHA-METHYLBENZYL)MALEIMIDE WITH ACHIRAL N-(SUBSTITUTED) MALEIMIDE

Radical and anionic copolymerizations of optically active N-(R-alpha-methylbenzyl)maleimide (MBZMI, M1) with N-(phenyl)maleimide (PhMI, M2) or N-(cyclohexyl) maleimide (CHMI, M2) were performed in benzene at 60-degrees-C and toluene at 0-degrees-C, respectively. The monomer reactivity ratios (r1, r2) were determined. From these values, the m1m2 diad sequence content was evaluated. In the radical systems, the relationship between the specific rotations and the MBZMI content (wt%) in the copolymers showed a deviation from linearity. In the anionic systems, however, the relationship was almost linear. This suggests that the main polymer chains have different conformational structures and that asymmetry was induced into the polymer main chain.