Asymmetric induction copolymerization of optically active N‐(l‐menthyl carboxylatomethyl)citraconimide with styrene

Abstract
A novel, optically active N‐(l‐menthyl carboxylatomethyl)citraconimide (MCMCI) was prepared from citraconic anhydride, glycine, and l‐menthol. The polymerization of MCMCI with styrene (ST) was carried out in benzene with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator to give optically active copolymers. After the removal of the optically active menthyl group by hydrolysis with potassium hydroxide, the ester‐cloven poly(MCMCI‐co‐ST)s still showed optical activity. It is thought that an asymmetric induction took place in the polymer main chains. The asymmetric induction is discussed based on the measurements of the optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the original and hydrolyzed copolymers.

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