SYNTHESIS OF HELICAL POLYAMIDES FROM A TA RTARIC ACID-DERIVATIVE AND AROMATIC DIAMINES

Polyamides were prepared by direct polycondensation of a tartaric acid derivative with aromatic diamines using PCI3 and N-acethylphenylhydra zine as a condensing system. The high specific rotations and CD spectr a of the polyamides indicated that the polymers have an ordered confor mation. The most stable conformation computed for the polyamides was a new type of helix. Photoirradiation of the polymer obtained with 4,4' -diaminoazobenzene induced a change of the helical conformation becaus e of the trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene units in the main c hain.