Abstract
The idea of synthesizing, efficiently and precisely, large and complex artificial molecular assemblies and supramolecular arrays from simple modular components has resulted in some chemical scientists using self-assembly in chemical synthesis, thus mimicking the many and beautiful examples of this paradigm in nature. Coordination of organic ligands around metal centres, hydrogen bonding interactions, and donor/acceptor π-π-stacking interactions have been employed to self-assemble numerous structures and superstructures, such as double and triple helices, grids, cages, and square-like networks, two- and three-dimensional aggregates, tubular ensembles, as well as a large number of mechanically interlocked molecular compounds, such as catenanes, rotaxanes, and knots.
