Self-Inductive Asymmetric Synthesis of Polyisocyanides in Liquid Crystal

Monomers grow by leaps and bounds in their enhanced environment. This study presents the synthesis of optically active polyisocyanides in a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) reaction field induced by itself and evaluates the liquid crystallinity of the resultant polymer and the magnetic orientation. Polymerization of a chiral isocyanide monomer in a chiral liquid crystal reaction field was performed. The chiral liquid crystal reaction field showing a fingerprint-like image under polarizing optical microscopy observations was prepared by adding a small amount of the chiral phenyl isocyanide with both monomer and chiral inducer functions for the formation of CLC from a nematic liquid crystal. Polymerization of the isocyanide monomer in the chiral liquid crystal reaction field prepared via chiral induction by itself produced poly(phenyl isocyanide) (PPI) with a one-handed helical structure. The asymmetric polymerization of the chiral monomer in CLC amplifies optical activity for the resultant polymer. The polymer thus prepared shows liquid crystallinity. Further, a magnetic orientation in the solvent vapor environment of the poly(phenyl isocyanides) was achieved. Synchrotron X-ray analysis evaluated the uniaxial orientation of PPI.