Enantioenriched Ruthenium-Tris-Bipyridine Complexes Bearing One Helical Bipyridine Ligand: Access to Fused Multihelicenic Systems and Chiroptical Redox Switches

The synthesis and photophysical and chiroptical properties of novel aza[n]helicenes (6a-d, 10a,b, n = 4-7) substituted with one or two 2-pyridyl groups are described. The preparation was performed via an adapted Mallory reaction using aromatic imines as precursors. The obtained novel class of helical 2,2'-bipyridine ligands was then coordinated to Ru(bipy)(2)(2+) units, thus affording the first diastereomerically and enantiomerically pure [RuL(bipy)(2)](2+) (11a,c, L = 6a,c) or [Ru2L'(bipy)(4)](4+) (12, L' = 10b) complexes. The topology and stereochemistry of these novel metal-based helical architectures were studied in detail, notably using X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, the coordination to ruthenium(II) enabled the preparation of fused multihelical systems incorporating aza- and ruthena-helicenes within the same scaffold. The photophysical, chiroptical, and redox properties of these complexes were examined in detail, and efficient redox-triggered chiroptical switching activity was evidenced.

Automated summary

This study describes the synthesis, photophysical, and chiroptical properties of novel aza[n]helicenes substituted with 2-pyridyl groups. The prepared compounds were coordinated to Ru(bipy)(2)(2+) units to form helical architectures, and their topology and stereochemistry were studied in detail using X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, the coordination to ruthenium(II) allowed for the preparation of fused multihelical systems incorporating aza- and ruthena-helicenes with redox-triggered chiroptical switching activity.