Optically active vinyl polymers. XI. Stereospecific polymerization of racemic α‐olefins by asymmetric catalysts

Racemic 3‐methyl‐1‐pentene and 3,7‐dimethyl‐1‐octene have been polymerized in the presence of (+)‐bis[(S)‐2‐methylbutyl]‐zinc/TiCl4 catalysts. In both cases, the polymer and the recovered monomer were optically active, the sign of the rotatory power both of the monomer and polymer indicating that the monomeric antipode having the same absolute structure of the alkyl groups present in the catalyst is preferentially polymerized.