Optically active poly(diphenylacetylene)s showing solvent-dependent helix inversion accompanied by modulation of helix inversion barriers.

Symmetrically substituted poly(diphenylacetylene)s bearing optically active 2-octyloxycarbonyl groups at the para -positions of the pendant phenyl rings not only show a unique solvent-dependent helix inversion to afford diastereomeric right- and left-handed helical polymers but also significant unprecedented solvent-dependent changes in the helix inversion barrier of the polymer backbone resulting in switching between static or dynamic behavior of the helical polymers at approximately room temperature depending on the solvents used.