Single-Handed Helicene Nanoribbons via Transfer of Chiral Information

Here we show the access to single-handed helicene nanoribbons by utilizing a [6]helicene building block to induce diastereoselective, photochemical formation of [5]helicene units. Specifically, we have synthesized nanoribbons P1 and P2 with different ratios of [6]helicene "sergeants" to [5]helicene "soldiers", which on average consist of between ∼50 and 60 ortho-annulated benzene rings. These are the longest, optically active helicene backbones that have been prepared to date. The chiroptic properties of P1 and P2 reveal the transfer of stereochemical information from "sergeants" to "soldiers". To gain further insight into the stereo-information relay, we apply the same molecular design to discrete, model oligomers 1–5 and confirm that they also preferentially adopt homochiral geometries.