Chiral Recognition and Resolution Based on Helical Polymers

Abstract

Helical polymers have attracted a great deal of attention and been extensively investigated due to their various applications. One of the most important applications of helical polymers is chiral recognition and resolution of enantiomers for the reason that a pair of enantiomers is commonly with different physiological and toxicological behaviors in biological systems. Helical polymers usually present unexpected high chiral recognition ability to a variety of racemic compounds. What’s more, the chiral recognition and resolution abilities of the system are dependent on the highly ordered helical structures of the helical polymers. This mini review mainly focuses on the recent progress in chiral recognition and resolution based on helical polymers. The synthetic methodology for helical polymers is firstly discussed briefly. Then recent advances of chiral recognition and resolution systems based on helical polymers, especially polyacetylenes and polyisocyanides, are described. We hope this mini review will inspire more interest in developing helical polymers and encourage further advances in chiral-related disciplines.