A helically twisted imine macrocycle that allows for determining the absolute configuration of α-amino carboxylatesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Characterization data of the new compound, NMR studies, circular dichroism studies, computer modeling, and X-ray crystallographic data. CCDC 951760. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c3cc46754f

Binding of α-amino carboxylates to a helically twisted imine macrocycle based on the indolocarbazole scaffold gives rise to characteristic circular dichroism spectra, and the patterns of the Cotton effects are consistent with the absolute configuration of α-amino carboxylates. A helically twisted imine macrocycle functions as a stereodynamic probe for determining the absolute configuration of α-amino carboxylates.