A group of iron(II) tris-bipyridine complexes bearing L-amino acids (L-Lys,
L-Phe, L-Ser, L-Val) was prepared to investigate the predetermination of c
hirality of metal complexes by the chiral amino acid subunits. Noncovalent
interactions and solvent polarity seemed to be important factors in inducin
g diastereoselectivity of the metal complexes. These phenomena were explain
ed by H-1 NMR and CD spectroscopic studies and molecular mechanics calculat
ions.