Transition metals as structural components in the construction of molecular containers

Abstract

This article will briefly review the development of metallomacrocycle syntheses and consider the distinction between equilibrium controlled self-assembly processes and kinetically controlled, but metal directed, macrocycle formation reactions. The use of octahedral rather than square planar or tetrahedral metal coordination geometries can introduce configurational isomerism into the structure and raises the issue of stereoselectivity in kinetically controlled metallomacrocycle formation reactions. The incorporaton of transition metal centres into cyclophane like structures introduces new functionality. This may contribute to the binding of guest molecules by the macrocycle and can give rise to novel electron transfer, luminescence or magnetic properties.