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Chemical Science

Construction of helicates based on six-coordinated silicon centres†

Yu-Tao Guan,a   Heng Ji,a   Ju Yang,a   Sai-Sai Yua  and  Ming Liu ORCID logo *ab  

* Corresponding authors

a Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

b Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center (HIC), Zhejiang University, Xiaoshan, Hangzhou 311215, China
E-mail: mingliu@zju.edu.cn

Abstract

A class of triple-stranded helicates based on six-coordinate silicon centres has been constructed through self-assembly of achiral catechol ligands, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These architectures demonstrate stability across physiological environments at pH = 3–12. Ligand rigidity dictates chiral configurations: rigid scaffolds form ΛΛ/ΔΔ racemic helicates, while flexible linkers enable dynamic equilibration with ΛΔ mesostates, observable by NMR. Host–guest interactions drive mesocate to helicate conversion, imparting cage-like guest recognition behavior. The helicates combine the biocompatibility of silicon with ligand-controlled chirality switching, offering potential for biomimetic applications.

Graphical abstract: Construction of helicates based on six-coordinated silicon centres

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC03271G
Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
06 May 2025
Accepted
14 Jul 2025
First published
16 Jul 2025
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2025, Advance Article

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Construction of helicates based on six-coordinated silicon centres

Y. Guan, H. Ji, J. Yang, S. Yu and M. Liu, Chem. Sci., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5SC03271G

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