The coordination and/or organometallic chemistry of π-helicenic ligands is a powerful tool to generate multifunctional molecules displaying optimized chiroptical properties combined with new properties furnished by the metallic center. In this review, we relate the different examples that have been described in this field of research to date.

Incorporation of a rhenium atom within an extended helical π-conjugated bi-pyridine system leads to the first examples of rhenium-based phosphors that exhibit circularly polarized luminescence.

Racemic and optically pure [Dy(hfac)₃(L)] complexes with L = 3-(2-pyridyl)-4-aza[6]-helicene have been synthesized and characterized.