Optically active helical polyethers from chiral terminal epoxides with a diarylamino group

Six optically active epoxy propanes with a diarylamino group at the 3-position carbon were synthesized and polymerized. Poly((S)-3-diphenylaminopropene oxide) ([Formula: see text] = –634°) was obtained from the polymerization of (S)-3-diphenylaminopropene oxide ([Formula: see text] = +75°). By investigating chiroptical properties of the obtained polyethers derived from optically active epoxy propanes, we found that if the diarylamino group were rigid enough, the obtained polyethers from chiral terminal epoxides with a diarylamino group could maintain a one-handed helical conformation in solution.