19 Macrocyclic and supramolecular coordination chemistry

Abstract

There are an ever increasing number of interesting and complex supramolecular architectures being designed and isolated. However, a slight shift is detected towards an increasing focus on the application of the supramolecular concept to the area of functional materials, sensors and components for molecular electronics and nanofabrication. An ultra-large {Mn₈₄} wheel-shaped cluster has been isolated that is a single-molecule magnet (SMM). Many new types of cluster frameworks have been synthesized, some notably (e.g. Fe₁₄) using hydrothermal methods. Polyoxometalate clusters provide paradigms for cation capture and filtering, whereas ligand design has allowed access to a vast range of molecular grids, cubes, boxes and other complexes with interesting functionality e.g. solvatochromism, Zn(II)-sensors and a nanovalve.