Electrochemically Controlled Assembling/Disassembling Processes with a Bis-imine Bis-quinoline Ligand and the CuII/CuI Couple

The easily attainable quadridentate ligand bis-N,N′-(2-methylquinoline)-1,2-trans-cyclohexanediimine forms double helical dimeric complexes with CuI and monomeric complexes with CuII, which are air- and moisture-stable and whose structures have been determined through X-ray diffraction. In an acetonitrile solution, it is possible to cycle electrochemically between the two forms, through a fast process which can be repeated at will (see diagram).