N-alkylation of a novel pyridine sensor results in pyridinium salts whose conformations are stabilised by pyridinium cation-π interactions resulting in a fluorescent response that can be used to sense the presence of alkylating agents in solution at low concentration.

NOEsy and fluorescence spectroscopy reveal that conversion of conformationally flexible (phenylalkyl)pyridines into their corresponding N-methyl-pyridinium iodides results in intramolecular pi-stacking.

An enantiopure amine tris(phenolate) ligand containing a single stereogenic center has been used to control the propeller-like chirality of a derived pseudo-C3-symmetric titanium isopropoxide complex with excellent levels of diastereocontrol. [structure: see text].

A chiral pseudo-C(3)-symmetric titanium triflate that employs the point chirality of a single stereogenic centre to control the propeller chirality of its aryl rings has been used to catalyse an asymmetric sulfoxidation reaction.