The preparation of a double metallahelicate containing 28 copper atoms

Abstract

Both L- or D-norvaline hydroxamic acids undergo one-step reactions with acetate, chloride, and CuII ions to form self-assembled metallahelicates that contain 20 chiral carbon and four chiral metal centers. Enantiopure complexes of over three nanometers in length, and composed of either P- or M-type double-stranded helical oligomers (see scheme), have been isolated.