Lanthanide directed self-assembly synthesis and photophysical evaluation of chiral Eu(III) luminescent "half-helicates".

The reaction between the asymmetrical pyridyl ligands 3 (R) and 4 (S) and Eu(III) in CH3CN give rise to the formation of lanthanide luminescent 'half-helicates' in 1 : 3 (Ln:ligand) stoichiometry; the formation of which was observed by monitoring the changes in the ground and the excited state properties of the ligands, and in the time-resolved Eu-centred and the CPL emission.