A NEW METHOD FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY-ACTIVE POLYBUTADIENE

The anionic polymerization of butadiene monomer in cyclohexane at 20 d egrees C gave polybutadiene (PB50) with a narrow molecular weight dist ribution. This polymer was allowed to react with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazo line-3,5-dione via the 'ene' reaction to the extent of 5, 10 and 15%. These functionalized polymers were reacted with N-phthaloyl-L-leucine acid chloride in the presence of pyridine at room temperature. These r eactions lead to the replacement of N-H by an optically active group, and the resulting polymers became optically active. Some structural ch aracterization and physical properties of these optically active polyb utadienes are reported. (C) 1998 Society of Chemical Industry.