SUPRAMOLECULAR ARSENIC COORDINATION CHEMISTRY

A flurry of research activity has emerged in recent years resulting in reliable strategies for the formation of spectacular self-assembled metal-ligand clusters and capsules. Main group ions have not shared in this burst of activity. In fact, ions in this part of the periodic table have largely been overlooked for use as directing elements in self-assembly reactions, despite the need for improved chelators for main group ions for a variety of applications. This review surveys our approach to developing design strategies to prepare self-assembled nanoscale supramolecular complexes containing main group ions, with a particular emphasis on supramolecular arsenic(III) coordination chemistry.