Designed Self-Generation of an Extended Helical Structure From an Achiral polyheterocyclic Strand

摘要

The generation of helical chemical entities requires specific structural and conformational features. The helicity in the molecular chains of proteins and nucleic acids as well as in the supramolecular strands of self-assembled hydrogen-bonded polymers results from the presence of an asymmetrically substituted carbon atom in the backbone components. Numerous organic molecules present helical characteristics. The helicity of self-assembled metal complexes, the helicates, rests on the design of the ligands and on the choice of the coordinating metalion.