Lanthanide Metal Ions as Cornerstones in Functional Self-Assembled Supramolecular Complexes

Abstract

The peculiar spectroscopic, magnetic, and chemical properties of lanthanide ions (4f block, Ln^III) are particularly attractive for the design of functional supramolecular devices if these ions can be selectively introduced into organized self-assembled architectures. The systematic investigation of a complete library of tridentate receptors leading to nine-coordinate tricapped trigonal prismatic sites upon coordination to Ln^III allows the elucidation of the factors governing the structural, thermodynamic, electronic, magnetic, and spectroscopic properties of the final complexes. The simultaneous use of Ln^III as cement between the molecular components of the supramolecular edifices and as functional vectors of the devices has been realized in self-assembled poly nuclear d-f and f-f complexes. Predetermined properties may result from a judicious molecular programming of the nanometric architecture leading to fascinating applications in luminescence, magnetism, template syntheses, and liquid crystals.