Chiral double-stranded helicates, formed between Cu(I) ion and C(2)-symmetric oligopyridines, were used for catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes; low catalyst loadings (0.2 mol%), high TONs (up to 404) and short reaction times (30-60 min) were achieved with [Cu(2)L(2)]OTf(2)(L = chiral C(2)-symmetric terpyridine).

Three triazine-based europium(III) complexes were synthesized that demonstrated strong two-photon induced europium emission with a high two-photon absorption cross-section. The modified triazine ligand of complex 3 initiated over 100% enhancement of the two-photon absorption cross-section (σ(2): 320 GM) when compared with complex 1 (σ(2): 128 GM) in a solution of DMSO. Europium complex 3 is also stable in vitro, and power-dependence curves were obtained in vitro to confirm the two-photon-induced f-f emission in HeLa cells.

Re(I) tricarbonyl bipyridine and terpyridine complexes catalyse stereospecific cyclopropanation of alkenes; high selectivity of cyclopropane vs coupling and an ee of 73% and 62% for cis- and trans-cyclopropanes of styrene respectively were achieved with the [Re(L)(CO)(3)(MeCN)]OTf complex (L = chiral C(2)-symmetric terpyridine ligand).

Crystallization-induced dynamic atropselective resolutions of three simple chiral biphenyl hybrids, (1R,19R)-1,19-(biphenyl-2,29-diyl)diethanol 1, (1R,19R)-1,19-(biphenyl-2,29-diyl)bis(ethane-1,1-diyl)diacetate 2 and (1S,19S)-1,19-(biphenyl-2,29-diyl)bis(2,29-dimethylpropan-1-ol) 3 were achieved. The axial chirality of the biphenyl backbones of 1-3 were found to be determined by (i) the steric bulkiness at the a position of the ortho-substituents, and (ii) the intermolecular interactions between the molecules. 1, which possesses the least sterically demanding methyl substituents, was found to form stereoselectively the S-atropisomer and gave enantiomerically pure supramolecular right-handed helices through strong and directional intermolecular hydrogen bonds in its crystal.

Chiral C2-symmetric quaterpyridine L reacts with [Pd(eta3-C3H5)Cl]2 to form a chiral single-stranded helical binuclear palladium complex of formula [Pd2(eta3-C3H5)2(L)]2+; the complex can efficiently catalyze allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate with enantioselectivity up to 85%.