Asymmetric selection in the copolymerization of N‐carboxy‐ L ‐ and D ‐alanine anhydride

The copolymerization of N‐carboxy‐L‐ and D‐alanine anhydride with methanol as initiator was carried out. The enantiomer excess in the starting monomer mixture is preferentially incorporated into polymer chains, demonstrating asymmetric selection during the D‐ and L‐copolymerization. The mechanism of asymmetric‐selective polymerization of α‐amino acid NCA is discussed in terms of the stereoregulation by molecular asymmetry of the growing polymer chain.