Supramolecular synthons yield

The structural correlation between various silver-ethynide supramolecular synthons affords a rationale for the preponderant existence of C2 Ag n = 6-10) polyhedra in Ag2C2 complexes (see Section 20.4.5). If the linear C=C-C=C— chain were contracted to a C% dumbbell, further overlap between atoms of the terminal Ag caps would conceivably yield a closed cage with 6-10 vertices (Fig. 20.4.35). 

Lehn has outlined a hierarchical order of the terms tern-plating, self-assembly, and self-organization to describe the spontaneous formation of supramolecular assemblies composed of preprogrammed molecular components (i.e., tectons) Self-assembly concerns the antientropic aggregation of individual components to yield an ordered multi-molecular entity. Intermolecnlar interactions that are intrinsically preprogrammed (see synthon) into the bnilding... 

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