Synthesis and chiroptical properties of methacrylic copolymers containing in side-chain optically active carbazole and azochromophores

Novel optically active multifunctional methacrylic copolymers bearing in the side chain azoaromatic and carbazole groups linked to the main chain with a chiral rigid group of one prevailing absolute configuration have been prepared and characterized in order to observe possible effects on the optical activity of the resulting materials. All the polymeric derivates have good thermal stability with glass transition temperature around 200°C and high decomposition temperatures in the range 280-300°C. Spectroscopic, thermal and chiroptical characterizations indicate the occurrence of dipolar interactions between side chain moieties and the presence of an ordered chiral conformation at least for chain segments of the macromolecules.