Solvent-to-polymer chirality transfer in intramolecular stack structure

Solvent-to-polymer chirality transfer was examined using conjugated polymer with intramolecular stack structure (IaSS). When achiral poly(diphenylacetylene)s (PDPAs) dissolved in limonene, the solvent chirality was successfully transferred to the side phenyl stack structure, leading to intramolecular axial chirality. The phenyl-phenyl IaSS was under thermodynamic control to readily undergo asymmetric changes in chiral limonene, leading to optical activity in the isotropic structure between the main chain and resonant side phenyl rings. The axial chirality was significantly affected by the chain length and substitution position of the side alkyl groups. The longer alkyl chains and bulkier alkyl group prevented direct intermolecular interactions between the side phenyl rings and the chiral limonene molecules. PDPA with sterically congested, highly stable, and regulated IaSS was not favorable for efficient solvent-to-polymer chirality transfer.