Nanoarchitectonics for coordination asymmetry and related chemistry

Abstract

Nanoarchitectonics is a concept envisioned to produce functional materials from nanoscale units through fusion of nanotechnology with other scientific disciplines. For component selection, coordination complexes with metallic elements have a wider variety of element selection because metallic elements cover ca. 80% of the periodic table of the elements. Application of nanoarchitectonics approaches to coordination chemistry leads to huge expansion of this concept to a much wider range of elements. Especially, coordination asymmetry strategy architects asymmetrical and/or chiral structures and/or electronic states through formation of metal coordination complexes, leading to functional material systems in certain anisotropy and selectivity. This review article presents expansion of the nanoarchitectonics concept to coordination asymmetry through collecting recent examples in the field of coordination asymmetry. Introduced examples are classified into several categories from various viewpoints: (i) basic molecular and material designs; (ii) specific features depending on interfacial media, space and contact with bio-functions; (iii) functions; (iv) supporting techniques such as analyses and theory.