Macromolecular stereochemistry: The effect of pendant group structure on the conformational properties of polyisonitriles 1,2.

This work describes the synthesis and solution characterization of several polyisonitriles. Although many polyisonitriles have been synthesized previously, the conformational properties have been examined in only a limited number of cases and the structural characteristics of most polyisonitriles are poorly understood. The ultra-violet (UV), circular dichroism (CD), and high-field sup (13)C NMR spectra were recorded on solutions of poly[S]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4- methylene isonitrile and poly(alpha-methyl benzyl isonitrile). Photon correlation spectroscopy was employed to determine the weight average hydrodynamic radii for these polymers.