Preparation of optically active polymer layers by after-glow plasma polymerization

After-glow plasma polzmerization is described as a new method to prepare polymeric layers from unsaturated monomers. An optically active acrylic monomer is used in this investigation. The deposition rates are given as functions of plasma power, pressure, distance between plasma and deposition zone, flux and kind of auxiliary gas (He, Ne, Ar, Kr) and of monomer flux. The polymers prepared are optically active, the IR spectra comply with those of polymers synthesized in bulk. Mostly the polymers prepared by after-glow plasma polymerization are crossed-linked and therefore insoluble. NMR spectra of soluble samples show that the polymers are atactic. After-glow plasma polymerization occurs by a radical chain growth mechanism. Membranes made from these polymers are able to separate racemates.