Hierarchic patterning: architectures beyond ‘giant molecular wheels’Dedicated to Professor Phillip Gütlich on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

Abstract

Based on symmetry breaking steps under one-pot conditions, simple molybdenum oxide-based building blocks initially assemble to ‘giant molecular wheels’ in a fast process followed by further slower assembly processes leading stepwise to more complex mesoscopic architectures including spherical ones and finally to those with a size larger than 500 nm.