Supramolecular coordination chemistry and functional microporous molecular materials

An enormous number and variety of discrete, isolable, supramolecular-coordination-chemistry-based assemblies featuring well-defined nanoscale cavities have been designed, synthesized, and characterized over the past decade. A small number of these have subsequently been used as building blocks for microporous materials and now comprise an important component of an emerging chemistry of microporous molecular materials. The extant materials typically have displayed large void volumes, high internal surface areas, and the ability to withstand the systematic removal of solvent. These and other properties (chemical tailorability, alignment of cavities to form extended channels, good processability, etc.) suggest a number of potentially very exciting applications involving selective molecular transport, sensing, or chemical transformation - with many of these now supported by proof-of-concept experiments.