Tuning the polarity of hierarchically assembled helicates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-0029-1218684

Catechol ligands bearing ester groups in 3-position (1a,b, 2) are building blocks for the formation of triply lithium-bridged dinuclear helicate-type complexes [Li1a,b,2)i^-. Attachment of appropriate functionalities at the ester unit allows the fine tuning of the polarity of the compounds to afford solubility in highly nonpolar as well as highly polar solvents. The investigations show that the internal dinuclear core is stable in a broad variety of solvents, even in water. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ? New York.