SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTICALLY-ACTIVE POLYAMIDES DERIVEDFROM CARBOHYDRATE-BASED MONOMERS

The synthesis of three new stereoregular AB-type polyamides based on D -ribono-1, 4-lactone, L-arabinose, and D-xylose has been carried out b y the active ester polycondensation method. These polyamides were char acterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopies, and powder X-ray diffraction. They displayed optical activity and had a pronounc ed affinity to water, although they were not soluble in this solvent. The polyamide obtained from D-ribono-1,4-lactone was highly crystallin e and yielded films with spherulitic texture. (C) 1997 John Wiley & So ns, Inc.