Asymmetric addition catalyzed by optically active polymers. II.

In the asymmetric addition of lauryl mercaptan to methacrylic esters and crotonic esters catalyzed by optically active amine, the optical yield of the products obtained by polymeric amine was higher than that by low molecular weight amines. The influence of the ester residue on the optical yield was remarkable in polymer catalyst system but not so remarkable in low molecular weight catalyst system. The influence of the ester residue on the reaction rate was not so remarkable. The specificity of the polymer catalyst was discussed referring to the reaction mechanism.