title: Mechanical reconfiguration of stereoisomers.
abstract: Poly(methyl acrylate) of varying molecular weight was grown from the enantiopure ditopic initiator (R)- or (S)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-bis-(2-bromoisobutyrate). Subjecting CH(3)CN solutions of high-molecular-weight derivatives (M(N) > 25 kDa) to sonication at 0 degrees C resulted in >95% racemization after 24 h, as determined by circular dichroism; no appreciable racemization was observed in low-molecular-weight derivatives. Control experiments excluded the possibility of a thermal racemization mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Todd W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hudnall
authors.forename: Qilong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kryger
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bielawski