Cation triggered spring-like helicates based on ketone-substituted bis-catechol ligands

The development of switchable molecular units is a challenging task of modern synthetic and supramolecular chemistry. In the present study, alkyl bridged bis(catecholketone) ligands are introduced in order to obtain helicates which cation triggered show some spring type dynamics. The preparation of the ligands as well as of the complexes and corresponding switching processes are described.