Cooperative formation and functions of multimetal supramolecular systems
Multimetal complexes provide a variety of interesting structures, unique properties, and functions. Such sophisticated functions are often produced by synergistic and cooperative interactions among the metal ions accumulated in the restricted small area of the multimetal systems. We describe novel three strategies (i.e., macrocyclic, C-shape, and multimetal template) for the preparation of the multimetal supramolecular systems by the cooperative metal binding of a multi-Schiff-base and multi-oxime ligands, and their characteristic structures and functions. The three approaches are versatile and effective because the employed coordination reactions smoothly and quickly proceeded under mild conditions to quantitatively form the desired coordination structures. The multimetal supramolecular systems obtained here exhibit the synergistic and cooperative functions for ion recognition, magnetic properties, helicity control, and modulation of reaction selectivity. These types of multimetal complexes could be developed for a cascade functional supramolecular system that shows highly synergistic properties, integrated multifunctions, and function amplification.