New synthetic routes to optically active monomers and polymers

Optically active polymers have grasped the interest of synthetic, biological, physical and analytical chemists, as well as polymer and materials scientists. The synthetic challenges inherent in their creation, the desire to gain insight into polymerization mechanisms and conformational properties, and the generation of chiral media, are just a few of the motivations for this intrigue. Advances in asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, both synthetic and biocatalytic, enantiomeric resolution, and genetic engineering technology are making possible the synthesis of novel reagents with high enantiomeric purity. Particularly promising is the use of recoverable chiral auxiliaries and enzymes in enantioselective syntheses. Several recent developments are expected to remove barriers that have curtailed the pursuit of novel optically active monomers and polymers, and will be reviewed here. With the demand for enantiomerically pure compounds and applications requiring chiral polymers on the rise, fervent activity can be anticipated in the synthesis of optically active monomers and polymers.