Toward Monodisperse Poly(γ-benzyl α,L-glutamate): Uniform, Polar, Molecular Rods

Poly(γ-benzyl α,L-glutamate) (PBLG) has been widely used in studies of the physics of rod-like polymer chains. The helical structure of PBLG gives rise to considerable chain stiffness, such that the persistence length of the chain is on the order of 70 nm in helicogenic solvents. This feature, coupled with the ease of synthesis and good solubility of the polymer has made PBLG the system of choice for the study of both isotropic and liquid crystalline solutions of rod-like macromolecules.