Transition Metals in Supramolecular Chemistry

Since the pioneering publications on co-ordination chemistry by Lehn and Pedersen in the late 1960s, coupled with the more orthodox interest from the transition metal chemists on template reactions (Busch, 1964), the field of supramolecular chemistry has grown at an astonishing rate. The use of transition metals as essential constituents of multi-component assemblies has been especially sharp in recent years, since the metals are prone to quick and reversible redox changes, and there is a wide variety of metal-ligand interactions. Such properties make supramolecular complexes of transition metal ions suitable candidates for exploration as light-energy converters and signal processors. This text focuses on the following main topics: metal controlled organization of novel molecular assemblies and shapes; design of molecular switches and devices operating through metal centres; supramolecular catalysts that mimic metalloenzymes; metal-containing sensory reagents and supramolecular recognition; and molecular materials that display powerful electronic, optoelectronic and magnetic properties.