Metal Ion Assembly in Macromolecules

Abstract

Self-assembled organic-inorganic hybrid nano-materials have recently received much attention due to their novel and original functions, including new electronic, optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties. Especially, reactions in organic-metallic hybrid materials are closely related to biological reactions, such as the reactions in metal-containing protein, and the controlled metal ions assembly into organic polymers becomes very important. In the first part of this review, recent progresses in two types of organic-inorganic hybrid nano-materials (Organic compounds [character: see text] inorganic mesoporous materials and Metal ions [character: see text] organic polymer) are summarized. In the latter parts, dendrimer-metal complexes, examples of nature-mimetic materials, are introduced, and their controlled metal assembly in dendrimer and their application are reviewed.

Redox-Responsive Colloidal Particles Based on Coordination Polymers Incorporating Viologen Units

“…The design of stimuli-responsive molecules and molecular materials is a subject of intense activity and emerges as an important challenge because of promising envisioned applications. − In this context, supramolecular polymers, in which monomeric units or chains are interconnected by noncovalent weak bonds, are particularly suitable components of stimuli-responsive systems because they may undergo large structural modifications under the effect of external inputs. − Among the different types of supramolecular polymers, soluble coordination polymers, in which bridging organic ligands are spontaneously interconnected by bonding with metal ions (Scheme ), may exhibit relevant properties for functional materials or devices. − Indeed, these metal-ion-assisted self-assemblies may possess the typical architectures and properties (viscoelasticity, processability, etc.) of covalent polymers, while the presence of coordination bonds in their main structure may provide supplemental ion-exchange, kinetic, optical, magnetic, redox, or mechanical properties that are of technological interest. ,− In particular, they may lead to a variety of stimuli-responsive features such as electrochromism, sol–gel transition, or self-healing. − …”