Stoichiometric C-H arylation of tricarbonyl(arene)chromium complexes bearing pyridine directing groups.

Differentially substituted Cr(CO)3-complexed aryl pyridines have been shown to readily undergo stoichiometric palladation and subsequent arylation using boronic acid nucleophiles. The positioning of the aryl substituents has been shown to be key in governing substrate reactivity, whereby sterically congested compounds prevent the geometry required for cyclometallation.

[7]-Helicene: a chiral molecular tweezer for silver(I) salts.

We have unambiguously demonstrated the binding of the silver(I) ion in the central cavity of [7]-helicene, given that the counterion is weakly coordinating. In such a binding mode, the helicene is functioning as a chiral molecular tweezer.