Figure 13. Structures of poly(dialkylsilane)s with different main-chain stiffness (74s76) and schematic illustrations of stiffness-dependent polymer wrapping behavior onto SWNT by the high-speed vibration milling (HSVM) method. (Reproduced with permission from ref 133.

Long-range communication of stereochemical information is common in biological systems, particularly in enzyme-catalysed reactions. Here, we report the remote control of the dynamic chirality of metal centres, coordinated by 2,2'-bipyridine ligands bearing dynamic helical oligopeptides. The helical chirality of the oligopeptides is controlled by a stereocentre remote from the metal. We show that when a mixture of chiral and achiral peptide ligands is used, both the chirality of the metal centre and that of the achiral oligopeptide helices are significantly amplified. The amplification mechanism relies on several steps of chirality induction, first from a single chiral peptide to the helicity of an oligopeptide through the induction of propeller chirality at the metal centre, then on to induction of helical chirality in an achiral oligopeptide.

Novel biomimetic, aerobic oxidation with an organocatalyst was performed. The oxidations of organic substrates such as sulfides, secondary amines, N-hydroxylamines, and tertiary amines with molecular oxygen (1 atm) or even in air in the presence of 5-ethyl-3-methyllumiflavinium perchlorate catalyst and hydrazine monohydrate in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol occur highly efficiently to give the corresponding oxidized compounds in excellent yields along with water and molecular nitrogen, which are environmentally benign. The TON of the oxidation of sulfides amounts to 19 000.