Asymmetric polymerization of N-1-naphthylmaleimide with (R,R)-N, N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1, 2-cyclohexanediaminatocobalt (II)

Asymmetric polymerizations of N‐1‐naphthylmaleimide (1‐NMI) with (R,R)‐N,N′‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)‐1, 2‐cyclohexanediaminatocobalt (II) (DBCCo), and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were performed under several conditions to obtain chiral poly(1‐NMI) having the maximum [α]D of +36.5°. The degree of asymmetric induction to the main chain decreased with enhancement of the molecular weight of polymer. The conformation of poly(1‐NMI) obtained in toluene may be different from that in THF‐pyridine.