A novel optically active polyelectrolyte poly［ethylene-alt-R-N-(1-phenylethyl)maleamic acid］ was synthesized from poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) and R-(+)-α-phenylethylamine at 1∶1 molar ratios in the presence of toluene

over a period of 5 h at 100℃

leading to a total yield of product up to 93%.The product was characterized by FT-IR

UV-Vis

1H-NMR and polarimetric analysis.In the FT-IR spectrum of poly［ethylene-alt-R-N-(1-phenylethyl)maleamic acid］

the peaks at 1851 and 1784 cm-1 corresponding to the CO= stretching and the peaks at 1219

964 and 921 cm-1 of the C—O—C band absorption of the cyclic anhydride disappeared

respectively

whereas three peaks at 1643

1550 cm-1 and 1205 cm-1 corresponding to the amide bond were observed.The UV-Vis absorption due to the π→π* transition of the polymer backbone was observed at λ=194

210 and 257 nm.The 1H-NMR spectrum of poly［ethylene-alt-R-N-(1-phenylethyl)maleamic acid］ showed three peaks.The peaks at δ=7.3～7.5 representing the chemical shift of H for phenyl ring

2.0～2.2 representing the chemical shift of H for groups of CH—CO and N—CH and 1.0～1.3 representing the chemical shift of H for —CH2— groups and —CH3 groups indicated the molecular structure of poly［ethylene-alt-R-N-(1-phenylethyl) maleamic acid］.The specific rotatory power of the new optically active polymer was +82.5°.Poly［ethylene-alt-R-N-(1-phenylethyl)maleamic acid］/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) ultra-thin films were fabricated with electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly method onto a glass substrate and the buildup of film was monitored with UV-Vis spectrophotometry.UV-Vis absorbance at λ=210 nm revealed that the assembly amount of multilayer grew exponentially with the number of bilayers.