Dinuclear helicate or mononuclear pincer lanthanide complexes from one ligand: stereo-controlled assembly and catalysis

Abstract

By varying the metal/ligand ratio, either dinuclear triple helicates (ΛΛ/ΔΔ-La₂L^R/S₃) or mononuclear pincer complexes (Λ/Δ-LaL^R/S) can be stereo-selectively obtained from the same chiral bis-tridentate ligand (L^R/S). Due to the open metal sites available in both complexes, their catalytic properties have been demonstrated with the asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions.