Controllable self-assembly of a mesomeric metallo-organic helicate and its π-electron number dependent encapsulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

A mesomeric helicate has been obtained by modulating metal centers’ handedness. It can recognize PAHs, and the binding affinity increases proportionally with the number of PAHs' π electrons, acting as an efficient method to enhance binding affinity.