Exploring the Biological Properties of Zn(II) thiosemicarbazone Helicates.

The design of artificial helicoidal molecules derived from metal ions with biological properties is one of the objectives within metallosupramolecular chemistry. Herein, we report three zinc helicates derived from a family of thiosemicarbazone ligands with different terminal groups, Zn(L)∙2HO , Zn(L)∙2HO and Zn(L), obtained by an electrochemical methodology. These helicates have been fully characterized by different techniques, including X-ray diffraction.

An unusual assembled Pb(ii) meso-helicate that shows the inert pair effect.

A dinuclear Pb(ii) mesocate has been prepared with an unprecedented four-coordinated kernel in which the Pb(ii) lone pair is stereochemically active. This is the first time that this effect has been observed in a supramolecular Pb(ii) helicate or meso-helicate.