Functional metallosupramolecular architectures using 1,2,3-triazole ligands: it's as easy as 1,2,3 “click”

Abstract

Self-assembled metallosupramolecular architectures have become an increasingly popular area of inorganic chemistry. These systems show a range interesting biological, electronic and photophysical properties. Additionally, they display extensive host–guest chemistry that could potentially be exploited for drug delivery and catalysis. To fully realise these types of applications the ability to generate more functionalised metallosupramolecular architectures is required. In this perspective review we examine the exploitation of 1,2,3-triazole ligands, generated using the Cu(I)-catalysed 1,3-cycloaddition of organic azides with terminal alkynes (the CuAAC “click” reaction), for the assembly of discrete functional metallosupramolecular architectures. These “click” ligands have been used to generate metallomacrocycles, cages and helicates. Some of the architectures have shown promise as anti-cancer and anti-bacterial agents while others have been exploited for small molecule activation and catalysis.