Cluster-based inorganic–organic hybrid materials

Abstract

Clusters as building blocks have been used for two types of inorganic–organic hybrid materials. The first are hybrid polymers, with polymer-like properties and structures, where the cluster units crosslink the polymer chains. They are prepared by co-polymerization of organic monomers with functional ligands attached to the clusters. The second type is crystalline metal–organic framework structures which are obtained by coordination chemistry approaches, i.e. by coordinating multifunctional organic ligands to cluster units. This tutorial review shows that both types of cluster-based materials are limiting cases with many options for varying both the cluster units as well as the connecting organic entities.