Synthesis of optically active polymers bearing amino acid moieties by atom transfer radical polymerization

We report here an approach toward the synthesis of optically active polyacrylamide bearing amino acid moieties, poly[N-methacryloyl l-leucine methyl ester] (PMALM), with controlled average number molecular weight (Mn) and relatively narrow polydispersity index (PDI, Mw/Mn < 1.3) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using initiating system methyl 2-bromopropionate/CuBr/tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl) amine. The optical properties of the resulting polymers were evaluated from specific optical rotation value and CD spectra.