Stereoselective formation of a trinuclear hexa-stranded helicate-type zinc(ii) complex

8-Hydroxyquinoline derivatives HL1 with urea moieties in the 7-position form hexa-stranded trinuclear coordination compounds with a helicate-type arrangement of the ligands; the chiral ligand HL2 stereoselectively produces P-[Zn3(L2)6].