Conformation of N,N'-bis(3-pyridylformyl)piperazine and spontaneous formation of a saturated quadruple stranded metallohelicate.

Ligand N,N'-bis(3-pyridylformyl)piperazine, L(1), exists in syn and anti conformers in solution state almost in equal proportion. Formation of a saturated quadruple stranded helicate is observed when Pd(NO(3))(2) is reacted with ligand L(1). In the complexed form the ligand exists in a flattened boat conformation with anti form.