Stereoselective formation of a single-stranded helicate: structure of a bis(palladium-allyl)quaterpyridine complex and its use in catalytic enantioselective allylic substitution.

Chiral C2-symmetric quaterpyridine L reacts with [Pd(eta3-C3H5)Cl]2 to form a chiral single-stranded helical binuclear palladium complex of formula [Pd2(eta3-C3H5)2(L)]2+; the complex can efficiently catalyze allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate with enantioselectivity up to 85%.