ABSTRACT:A new type of optically active N-[4-N'-(IX-methylbenzyl)aminocarbonylphenyl]-itaconimide (MBPI) was synthesized from itaconic anhydride, p-aminobenzoic acid, and (R)-1X-methylbenzylamine. The radical homopolymerization of MBPI was performed in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 60--I 30°C for 22 h to give optically active polymers having [ IX Ji 5 = -46.6 to -51.8°. Anionic polymerizations of MBPI with n-butyllithium in THF and N,N-dimethylformamide were performed. But the yields were quite small. Radical copolymerizations of MBPI (Mi) were performed with styrene (ST, M 2), methyl methacrylate (MMA, M 2 ), or indene (ID, M2) in THF at 70°C. Monomer reactivity ratios (r1, r2) and Alfrey-Price Q-e values were calculated. Chiroptical properties of the polymers and copolymers were also investigated.KEY WORDS Optically Active ltaconimide / Radical Polymerization / Monomer Reactivity Ratio/ Q--e values/ Chiroptical Properties/ Asymmetric Perturbation / There have been some reports on the polymerization and copolymerization of Nsubstituted itaconimides (Ril). 1 -4 However, no studies on polymerization of optically active RII have been made. Thus, polymerization reactivity and chiroptical property of RII including a chiral group were of interest to us. We reported that radical copolymerizations of optical active N-[4-N'-(a-metbylbenzyl)aminocarbonylphenyl]maleimide [(R)-MBPM5 and (S)-MBPM 6 ] were performed with styrene (ST) or methyl methacrylate (MMA). In these systems, relationships between specific rotation of the copolymers and content (wt%) of chiral MBPM monomeric unit indicated great deviation from linearity. This deviation could be attributed to (1) asymmetric induction into the copolymer main chain and/or (2) asymmetric perturbation of chromophore of the chiral side chain.* To whom all correspondence should be addressed.
920In this paper, a novel, optically active N-[ 4-N' -( a-methyl-benzyl)aminocarbonylphenyl]itaconimide (MBPI), is prepared from itaconic anhydride, p-aminobenzoic acid, and (R)-( + )-a-methylbenzylamine. MBPI is polymerized and copolymerized with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and indene (ID) in the presence of radical initiators. From the results, monomer reactivity ratios and Q-e values were determined. Based on specific rotations and molecular ellipticities of the copolymers, asymmetric induction into the copolymer main chain and asymmetric perturbation of chromophore of the chiral side chain are discussed and compared with that of (R)-MBPM 5 containing the same N-substituent as MBPI. MBPI was also polymerized with an anionic initiator.