Bailar twist
The Bailar twist is a mechanism proposed for the racemization of octahedral complexes containing three bidentate chelate rings. Such complexes typically adopt an octahedral [molecular geometry], in which case they possess helical chirality. One pathway by which these compounds can racemize is via the formation of a trigonal prismatic intermediate with D3h point group symmetry. This pathway is named in honor of John C. Bailar, [Jr.], an inorganic chemist who investigated this process. An alternative pathway is called the Ray–Dutt twist.