SUPRAMOLECULAR ASSEMBLIES CONTAINING METALLOCYCLAM SUBUNITS

The synthetic approach to supramolecular systems containing one or mor e metallocyclam subunits is reviewed. In particular, the template synt hesis of azacyclam complexes has been used to design supramolecular co ordination compounds displaying multi-electron redox activity. Moreove r, it is shown that whenever the supramolecular design requires a comp onent able to provide a fast and reversible redox change, a metallocyc lam subunit should be used. Finally, the design of supramolecular syst ems in which a light-emitting fragment (anthracene) has been linked to a metallocyclam subunit has been considered. In particular, anthracen e fluorescence can be switched on/off through the Cu-I/Cu-II redox cou ple inside a tetra-thia-macrocyclic environment, via an electron trans fer mechanism.