Controlled generation of heterochiral or homochiral coordination polymer: helical conformational polymorphs and argentophilicity-induced spontaneous resolution.

In the pair of helical conformational polymorphs of the coordination polymer {[AgL](CF3SO3)}infinity(L=2-pyridinyl-3-pyridinylmethanone), the 2(1) helices of opposite chirality in one supramolecular isomer are stacked alternately to form a racemate, while the 4(1) helices in the other are assembled homochirally by inter-chain argentophilic interaction to generate a conglomerate.