title: Increasing molecular weight parameters of a helical polymer through polymerization in a chiral solvent.
abstract: In this communication, we will demonstrate that polymerization in a chiral solvent can affect the molecular weight distribution of the product by perturbing the balance of the P and M helical screw senses of the growing chains. Specifically, for the Wurtz-type synthesis of polymethylphenylsilane (PMPS) in either (R) or (S)-limonene, the weight-average molecular weight of the products (average Mw = 80 000) was twice that of PMPS synthesized in (R/S)-limonene (average Mw = 39 200). Peturbation of the helical segmentation along the polymer chains leads to a reduction in the rate of occurrence of a key termination step. This the first time that a chiral solvent has been demonstrated to have such an effect on a polymerization process in affecting molecular weight parameters in contrast to affecting tacticity.
authors.affiliation: Functional Materials Group, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, UK. S.J.Holder@kent.ac.uk
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Holder
authors.forename: Mariliz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achilleos
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Jones