Chemoenzymatic synthesis of chiral 4,4'-bipyridyls and their metal-organic frameworks.

The first enantiopure 4,4'-bipyridyls, , , and have been prepared in four or five steps via bacterial dioxygenase-catalysed cis-dihydroxylation of 4-chloroquinoline and C-C coupling; ligands and are found to be effective building blocks for the preparation of chiral metal-organic frameworks as demonstrated with the rational synthesis of two pillared-grid structures [Zn(2)(fumarate)(2)(L)], which exhibit interesting structural and dynamic aspects.