Metallacyclic assembly of interlocked superstructures

Interlocked molecules are a type of supramolecules whose sub-components are held together not by covalent bonds but non-covalent interactions. Examples include rotaxanes, catenanes, Solomon links, ring-in-ring complexes, molecular Borromean rings, molecular knots and interlocked cages. The design and manufacture of these architectures is mainly based on self-assembly and template-directed methodologies. Inspired by the successful utilization of coordination-driven assembly in metallasupramolecular systems, the metallacyclic assembly of interlocked superstructures is developing rapidly and as such makes a fascinating topic for reviewing. In this review we will focus on the metal-directed synthesis of the different types of interlocked superstructures, as well as their functional applications.