Metal ions in the synthesis of interlocked molecules and materials

The use of metal ions to template the synthesis of catenanes by Sauvage and co-workers was a pivotal moment in the development of the field of interlocked molecules. In this Review Article we shall examine the different roles metal–ligand interactions play in modern syntheses of interlocked molecules and materials, with a particular focus on seminal contributions and the advantages and disadvantages of employing metal ligand interactions.