Disclosed are: a method for production of a polyisocyanide derivative
having a stable helical main chain structure with a right-handed or
left-handed helix or a mixture thereof from a single type of monomer by
polymerizing an aromatic isocyanate having a substituent harboring a
structure --CONH in the aromatic ring and a hydrophobic moiety having 6
or more carbon atoms in a polymerization solvent, wherein the direction
of the helix depends on the polarity of the polymerization solvent; a
poly(aromatic isocyanide) derivative produced by the method; and an
aromatic isocyanide which is useful as a monomer for use in the
production of the poly(aromatic isocyanide) derivative.