Asymmetric anionic oligomerization of N-substituted citraconimide with thechiral ligand-organometal complex

Asymmetric anionic homopolymerizations of achiral N-substituted citraconimi de (RCI, N-substituent: R=n-propyl(n-PrCI), n-butyl(n-BuCl), cyclohexyl (CH CI), phenyl (PhCI), benzyl (BzCI), 1-naphthyl (NCI), 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phen yl (ECPCI), and a-methylbenzyl (MBzCI)) were performed with the chiral Liga nd-organometal complex in toluene or tetrahydrofuran (THF). The obtained ol igo(RCI)s had very low molecular weights and relatively narrow polydispersi ty. The oligomers showed specific rotation([a](435)(25) + 79.2 degrees to - 40.3 degrees). Asymmetric induction took: place on the polymer main chain a nd was confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) and GPC analysis using UV and p olarimetric detectors.