Mononuclear–dinuclear helicate interconversion of dibromo{N,N′-bis[(S)-1-2-(pyridyl)ethyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamidate}copper(ii) via a deprotonation–protonation process

Abstract

The mononuclear complex dibromo{N,N’-bis[(S)-1-2-(pyridyl)ethyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamidate}copper(II) reversibly converts to the dinuclear chiral (M)-helicate upon deprotonation–protonation of the amide ligand; the helicate formation process displays a high level of self-recognition, and equal amounts of the (P) and (M) helicates only are formed from a racemic mixture of the amide ligand and CuBr₂.