Chiral Organic Cages with a Triple-Stranded Helical Structure Derived from Helicene

J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Feb 28;140(8):2769-2772. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b13512. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Abstract

We report the use of helicene with an intrinsic helical molecular structure to prepare covalent organic cages via imine condensation. The organic cages revealed a [3+2]-type architecture containing a triple-stranded helical structure with three helicene units arranged in a propeller-like fashion with the framework integrally twisted. Such structural chirality was retained upon dissolution in organic solvents, as indicated by a strong diastereotopy effect in proton NMR and unique Cotton effects in circular dichroism spectra. Further study on chiral adsorption showed that the chiral organic cages possess considerable enantioselectivity toward a series of aromatic racemates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't