Helical polymer brushes with a preferred-handed helix-sense triggered by a terminal optically active group in the pendant.

Helical polymer brushes with a preferred-handed helix-sense composed of a poly(phenylacetylene) backbone and poly(phenyl isocyanate) pendants are synthesized. The helix-sense of the backbone is effectively controlled by the helical chirality of the pendants, which is triggered by an optically active group introduced at the pendant terminal.