Design, structure, and properties of functional metal-ligand inorganic modules

Abstract From the standpoint of supramolecular chemistry major advances have been made concerning the functional properties of metal–ligand-based coordination complexes/extended solids/polymers. This paper reviews recent results from our laboratories on two contemporary areas of research: (i) spin-crossover Fe II N 6 complexes which are representative examples of molecular bistability and (ii) synthesis of tailor-made transition-metal-based 1D coordination polymers and investigation of their magnetic exchange phenomena from the standpoint of molecule-based magnetic materials. Our primary focus is on the magnetic properties which seem to hold promise for future applications. It has been shown that covalent bond-driven discrete complexes/coordination polymers are further stabilized by association due to multiple weak, noncovalent interactions. In the design of Fe II N 6 complexes our laboratories have so far relied on synthesis of discrete molecules. However, they are connected by noncovalent interactions, imparting cooperativity.