A series of copolymers based on L -menthyl acrylate ( L -MtA) and 2

5-bis(4'-hexyloxyphenyl)styrene (BHPSt)

namely L -MtA(x)- co -BHPSt(1-x)

were prepared via conventional radical copolymerization.UV-Vis absorption and 1H-NMR spectra were used to determine the compositions of the resultant copolymers.Based on the copolymer composition from UV-Vis absorption spectra

the reactivity ratios of BHPSt ( r BHPSt) and L -MtA ( rL -MtA) were estimated as 2.46 and 0.36

respectively

with Kelen-Td's linearization method

implying a random nature of the copolymer.All the copolymers displayed chiroptical properties distinguished from the corresponding monomer mixtures

an indicative of the formation of new chiral structure.When the content of PHPSt was large enough

the copolymer exhibited CD patterns similar with that of optically active helical poly{(+)-2

5-bis[4'-(( S )-2-methylbutoxy)phenyl]styrene}

suggesting BHPSt segment was long enough to form stable helical conformation and an excess of screw sense was induced by chiral L -MtA.This work provides an efficient and simple method to obtain optically active helical polymers from achiral vinyl monomer through radical polymerization.