Catecholate-Based Helicates

Abstract

Catechol is a bidentate ligand for metal coordination which is well suited for the formation of helicates and related metallosupramolecular complexes. The development of the self-assembly and stereochemistry of helicates based on catechol ligands in the last 25 years is discussed. Unsaturated, heteronuclear and hierarchical helicates as well as molecular switches based on catecholate helicates are covered.