Stereochemistry of copolymerization of optically active cyclohexylepoxyethane with carbon dioxide

The stereochemistry of alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide with S ‐(+)‐cyclohexylepoxyethane ( 1 ) using a diethylzinc/water system as catalyst was investigated. The optically active copolymer, poly[(oxycarbonyloxy)‐1‐cyclohexylethylene], was hydrolyzed and the epoxide was transformed into the form 1,2‐bis(trimethylsilyloxy)‐1‐cyclohexylethane ( 2 ). From the determination of optical activity of this ether, it is concluded that the ring opening of 1 in the copolymerization takes place predominantly at the methylene‐oxygen linkage.