Ion-pairing assemblies of anion-responsive helical PtII complexes†

Naphthylisoquinoline-appended dipyrrolyldiketone Pt^II complexes as helical π-electronic systems were synthesized. The Pt^II complexes, showing chiroptical properties in solution, exhibited anion-binding behaviour, resulting in the formation of anion complexes as pseudo π-electronic anions. In combination with the π-electronic cation, the receptor–anion complexes formed charge-by-charge ion-pairing assemblies, with the narcissistic self-sorting columnar structures comprising either of the enantiomers, in the crystal state.