Desymmetrization self-assembly of symmetric building blocks is a powerful method to construct elaborate metallosupramolecular architectures. Herein several examples are given to discuss how to build up self-assembled complexes with low symmetry, focusing on 1) stabilization of local structural motifs by template molecules and/or interligand interactions, 2) rigidity regulation of ligand scaffolds, and 3) control of intermediate complexation conditions. Unsymmetrically assembled supramolecular host complexes exhibit unique functions reflecting their structural frameworks.
Ç IntroductionThree-dimensional arrangement of molecular components is an efficient tool to construct platforms for elaborate chemical functions within isolated inner spaces. For example, natural enzymes perform highly selective molecular recognition and catalytic reactions utilizing cooperative effects of functional amino acid residues arranged around their active sites (Figure 1a), 1 where the positions of the functional groups and environments of active sites are well-defined by the folded protein scaffold. However, when considering the structural modification for further applications, it is still difficult to design and predict the folding behaviors of chemically modified macromolecules.2 Self-assembly of artificial molecular components is a powerful method for the construction of discrete and welldefined three-dimensional architectures.3 In this supramolecular approach, purposely designed building blocks are equipped with multiple functional groups to exert reversible intermolecular interactions between them. Coordination bonds, 4 hydrogen bonds, 5 electrostatic interactions, 6 and hydrophobic effects 7 are utilized to assemble individual building blocks into finite desired structures under appropriate conditions. In particular, coordination-driven self-assembly of organic ligands and metal ions has advantages in terms of the directionality and stability of coordination bonds, and design versatility of organic ligands.Organic ligands with multiple metal binding sites are required for assembling each component via coordination bonding. In general, when ligands that have chemically equivalent metal binding sites and therefore high symmetry are employed, the resulting supramolecular complexes also tend to possess uniform, highly symmetric frameworks. This is because; 1) direction and strength of coordination bonds between chemically equivalent binding sites and metal ions are usually equal; and 2) the self-assembly process is thermodynamically controlled where the products are formed as the result of repetitive bond formation and dissociation.In this context, construction of unsymmetrically selfassembled architectures is a challenging issue. Realization of such structures has a substantial impact, because it allows selfassembled unities to have elaborate functions by arranging molecular components in less symmetric but well-organized manners, which is reminiscent of natural enzymes.8 Common strategies to construct more intricate self-a...