Open AccessFrom Simplicity to Complexity via Subcomponent Self-Assembly
Author(s) -
Marie Hutin,
David Schultz,
Jonathan R. Nitschke
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2008.198
Subject(s) - covalent bond , template , simplicity , chemistry , metal , ligand (biochemistry) , simple (philosophy) , set (abstract data type) , combinatorial chemistry , nanotechnology , computer science , materials science , organic chemistry , physics , biochemistry , receptor , philosophy , epistemology , quantum mechanics , programming language
Subcomponent self-assembly allows the construction of complex architectures from simple building blocks via the formation of covalent bonds around metal templates. Since both covalent and coordinative bonds are formed reversibly, a wealth of rearrangement reactions are possible involving substitution at both intraligand and metal–ligand bonds. If the possibilities latent within a set of subcomponents and metal ions are understood, one may also select specific structures from among dynamic libraries of products. The parallel preparation of structures from mixtures of subcomponents is also possible, as is the direction of subcomponents to specific sites within product structures.