Asymmetric polymerization of N-substituted maleimides with organolithium — bisoxazolines complex

Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of achiral N-substituted maleimide (RMI) (N-cyclohexyl (CHMI), N-phenyl (PhMI), N-tert-butyl (TBMI)) by n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) or fluorenyllithium (FlLi) complexes of chiral bisoxazoline derivatives in toluene gave optically active polymers (α]²⁵ ₄₃₅− 2.9° to − 8.2°). The polymers prerared with initiator of n-BuLi – 2,2′-bis(4,4′-isopropyl-,3-oxazoline) showed negative specific rotations (poly(RMI), α]²⁵ ₄₃₅− 5.8° to − 8.2°) which were greater than those (α]²⁵ ₄₃₅− 2.9° to − 5.9°) with other chiral 2,2′-bis(4,4′-alkyl-1,3-oxazoline) (alkyl group = iso-butyl and benzyl). Received: 29 July 1997/Revised: 27 August 1997/Accepted: 1 September 1997