Induction of Single-Handed Helicity of Polyacetylenes Using Mechanically Chiral Rotaxanes as Chiral Sources.

Effective induction of preferred-handed helicity of polyacetylenes by pendant mechanically chiral rotaxanes is discussed. Polyacetylenes possessing optically active mechanically chiral rotaxanes in the side chains were synthesized by the polymerization of the corresponding enantiopure [2]rotaxane-type ethynyl monomers prepared by the chiral-phase HPLC separations. The CD Cotton effects revealed that the polyacetylenes took preferred-handed helical conformations depending on the rotaxane chirality. The preferred-handed helix was not disturbed by an additional chiral substituent on the rotaxane side chain. These results demonstrate the significance and utility of mechanically chiral rotaxanes for the effective construction of asymmetric fields.