Dynamic heteroleptic metal-phenanthroline complexes: From structure to function

Abstract

Dynamically heteroligated metal centres are auspicious platforms to access multicomponent supramolecular systems, the latter showing unique structures, amazing properties and even emergent functions. The great potential of heteroleptic complexes has materialised after the development of appropriate strategies that warrant quantitative formation in spite of the dynamic character. In this perspective, we discuss our endeavours at developing various heteroleptic self-assembly protocols based on sterically bulky 2,9-diarylphenanthrolines and our work toward self-sorted multicomponent architectures and assemblies with new and useful functions. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.