Synthesis and properties of helical substituted polyacetylenes

Optically active N-propargylamides polymerized with rhodium catalysts into helical polymers with predominantly one-handed screw sense. It was confirmed that hydrogen bonding between the amide groups in the side chains played an important role to stabilize the helical structure. Poly(1-methylpropargyl alcohol)s and the esters took helical structures stabilized by the steric effect of methyl group adjacent to the main chain.