Enantioselective Assembly of a Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex into a Double Helix |
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| Authors: | Prof Kristof Van Hecke Dr Thomas Cardinaels Dr Peter Nockemann Jeroen Jacobs Louis Vanpraet Prof Tatjana N Parac‐Vogt Prof Rik Van Deun Prof Koen Binnemans Prof Luc Van Meervelt |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281‐S3, 9000 Gent (Belgium);2. Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F P.O. Box 2404, 3001 Leuven (Belgium);3. Present address: Institute for Nuclear Materials Science, SCK‐CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol (Belgium);4. Present address: The QUILL Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, David Keir Building, Queen's University Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG (UK) |
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| Abstract: | Evolution can increase the complexity of matter by self‐organization into helical architectures, the best example being the DNA double helix. One common aspect, apparently shared by most of these architectures, is the presence of covalent bonds within the helix backbone. Here, we report the unprecedented crystal structures of a metal complex that self‐organizes into a continuous double helical structure, assembled by non‐covalent building blocks. Built up solely by weak stacking interactions, this alternating tread stairs‐like double helical assembly mimics the DNA double helix structure. Starting from a racemic mixture in aqueous solution, the ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex forms two polymorphic structures of a left‐handed double helical assembly of only the Λ‐enantiomer. The stacking of the helices is different in both polymorphs: a crossed woodpile structure versus a parallel columnar stacking. |
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| Keywords: | double helix enantiomer polypyridyl ruthenium self‐assembly |
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