The polymerization of diepoxides derived from hexitols, namely, l,2:5,6-dianhydrohexitols presents a new preparative method for synthetic polycarbohydrates. There are ten hexitols, which contain two meso forms and four pairs of optical enantiomers. Two pairs of D- and L-isomers in mannitol and iditol are C₂ symmetric and the other pairs are asymmetric. D-Glucitol is contained in the latter pairs. Allitol and galactitol are optically inactive meso forms.

The cyclopolymerizations of 1,2:5,6- dianhydrohexitols were regio- and stereoselective. The polymer consisting of (lg6)-bonded 2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol recurring units showed a metal cation-binding ability and a chiral recognition property toward the racemic amino acid derivatives.