Self-assemblies through coordination from 24 components

When the coordination bonds that hold these assemblies together are both stable and inert, their formation from the components occurs under kinetic rather than thermodynamic control and it is thus disputable if they can be truly defined as supramolecular systems. On the other hand, owing to their kinetic stability, some of these species can be further exploited as building blocks in the construction of higher order architectures through a hierarchical self-assembly approach (see for example the molecular sandwiches 13-15). Through this modular approach, multichromophore systems become easily accessible on demand, with a limited synthetic effort. 

Solution dynamic study of mononuclear metal-ligand complexes is well established. The description of self-assembly reaction dynamics presents new challenges in coordination chemis-try.249 xjjg synthesis of assemblies from inert components produces a picture of stepwise complex formation. However, it is unclear if self-assembly of labile components proceeds through a clean stepwise mechanism. 

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