Copper(Ⅱ) complexes of sericin

chitosan

6-and 2-aminodeoxystarch were used as catalysts in oxidative coupling of β-naphthol

the effects of conformation of the polymer ligands in these complexes on activities of the catalysts and mechanisms of the reaction were studied. It was found that if the catalysts react with the substrate by mechanism similar to the enzymic catalysis they must be composed of polymer ligands with highly coiled

especially with densely helicoidal

conformations. While catalysts composed of loosely coiled or helicoidal ligands react with the substrate through molecular collision and have relatively lower activities only.Under nitrogen

catalysts from sericin and chitosam reacting with β-naphthol give optically active β-binaphthol

rotating polarized light to right

but the stereiselectivities are rather low.