Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(phenylacetylene)s Having Steroid Compounds in the Side Chain

Abstract

Novel monosubsituted acetylenes with steroid moiety and their polymers with a Rh complex catalyst, [Rh (norbornadiene) Cl]₂ were synthesized. The polymers were obtained in relatively high yields. Their relative weight-average molecular weights determined by GPC were in the range of 1.1×10⁵∼3.3×10⁵. All polymers were soluble in organic solvents such as toluene, chloroform and THF. It was found that the steric structure of the polymers was dependent on the bulkiness and the optical activity of steroid compounds incorporated as substituents. Since the optical rotation was maintained at high value in various solvents and temperatures, the steric structure of the polymers was assumed to be stabilized by the steric repulsion.