Secondary bonding supramolecular polymeric arrays

Self-assembly through secondary bonds results in the formation of discrete supermoiecules (dimers, trimers, tetramers) or supramolecular polymeric arrays, both in purely inorganic systemsand in organometallic compounds. They are frequently found in derivatives... 

Innumerable possibilities exist based upon the cooperative use of classical dative-coordinate and secondary bonds for supramolecular synthesis. This strategy is only in its infancy but can serve for the controlled design of materials with predictable structures. In a first alternative, discrete supermolecular species formed through dative bonds are further associated into polymeric arrays through secondary bonds. This case can be illustrated by the... 

The biological self-assemblies inspired the chemists to design molecular recognition-directed supermolecules [3-6]. Multiple hydrogen-bonds between complementary molecular components and metal coordination interactions have been used to design small receptor-guest complexes [3], bulk supramolecular systems such as liquid crystals [7-10], and molecular cocrystals [11-18]. Supramolecular polymers are broadly defined as polymeric arrays of repeating molecular units which are assembled by reversible and directional noncovalent interactions [19,20]. This definition refers to their primary structures, and control on their secondary and ternary structures has not been a critical issue. 

---