18 Supramolecular coordination chemistry

Abstract

Highlights include the formation of the first uranyl-based metallamacrocycles, the assembly of chiral metallocycles containing as many as 47 metal centres by cyclization of metal- and ligand-terminated oligomers under kinetic control, the formation of mesoscopic molecular polygons and capsules that can enantioselectively bind guests, and architectures that ‘self-select’ from a dynamic combinatorial library. Additionally, structural control on the nanomolecular scale has been demonstrated by the formation of a number of polyoxometalate systems including the self-assembly of the polyoxotungstate wheel, {W₄₀}²⁴⁻, and development of a highly charged nano-container capsule with 20 nanosized pores and channels which allow the entrance of cations like Pr and Li⁺. Finally, a high-nuclearity “Celtic-Ring” isopolyoxotungstate, [H₁₂W₃₆O₁₂₀]¹²⁻, that captures trace potassium ions, has been discovered.