Reversible and irreversible conformational changes in poly(isocyanide)s: a remote stereoelectronic effect

Poly(isocyanide)s prepared by diastereoselective polymerisation of two chiral monomers, which differ only in the presence of a nitro-group adjacent to the stereogenic group, exhibit long range chiral induction, but a surprising influence of a remote substituent on the conformation and stability of the secondary structure in the macromolecules.