Synthesis and properties of helical polyacetylene

We have synthesized for the first time helical polyacetylene [(CH)(x)] with left- and right-handed screw structures under chiral nematic reaction fiel d. We discuss the influence of the chiral nematic reaction field on film pr operties, morphology, crystal structure, electrical conductivity and optima l activity. These properties are characterized by scanning electron microsc opy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, the four-probe method and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy.