Self-assembly and Metal Templated Reactions

The term molecular self-assembly reffjrs Id a process in wiii h. 1 number of components Iji. ul I. iiether at equililbni jrn to I lrni a pailicular product in high yield At its simplest level this (Duln apply m tiie formation of melal c onij -lex sucli as [Co(NH ) 1 from Co- and six NH moler.jhis. where seven (Til I tie , combini into onr. 

vevf i, the term is more (iMjylly rip.plied to tlie forinaiioii ot mof eliiboiate structures, sucti a ., the polynuclear coinplexe - shr. wn m figures. .3 and Fi.g, 

The driving force for the formation of a coordination compound may be expressed in the form of an equilibrium eonstanl known as a stability constant or formation constant. 

The stability constant of a metal complex depends upon the nature of the ligands and the nature of the metal ion. Normally hard metals bind more strongly to hard ligand donor atoms. 

Ligands which hind to metals through more than one donor atom show relatively high stability constants. Both enthalpy and entropy contribute to the magnitude of the stability constant and the balance between these contributions varies with ligand structure. 

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