Tris-ACE-α-cyclodextrin tripods: chemistry and metal coordination behaviour.

The synthesis of C-3-symmetrical tris-(ACE)-(6,6'-bis-heterocyclyl)-alpha-cyclodextrins via "one pot" Staudinger-Aza-Wittig (SAW) reaction is described. The spectroscopic properties of their metal coordination compounds were analysed. The spontaneous formation of metallosupramolecular helicates generate strong exciton coupling features enlighten much information on the nature, the geometries of the complexes and their absolute configuration.