Fig. 1: Research background and our strategy for synthesizing double S-shaped helicene-like molecules.

a The research status of catalytic enantioselective synthesis of chemicals with helical chirality. b Current status of enantioselective synthesis of multiple helicenes and helicene-like molecules. The helicene units are indicated with semicircles in light blue and the fused rings are indicated with rectangles in pink. c Synthesis of axially chiral molecules by organocatalyzed [4 + 2] cycloadditions and our vision for the synthesis of multi-helical chiral compounds. d Strategies for the enantioselective synthesis of double S-shaped helicene-like molecule and key issues to be addressed. e Our design blueprint: enantioselective synthesis of double S-shaped helicene-like molecules via organocatalyzed [4 + 2] cycloadditions. E⁺, electrophilic reagent.