Self-assembled fabrication, photochemical and electrochemical properties of macrocyclic metallosupramolecules based on conjugated terpyridine and transition metal ions

The polygonal cyclic metallosupramolecules based on 2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridine and transition metal ions are a new class of rigid oligomers which possess unique structural, electronic, and physical characteristics. Construction of highly ordered, regularly repeating molecular architectures through self-assembly techniques is of interest from a variety of supramolecular perspectives, which leads to utilitarian applications in molecular electronics, catalysis, luminescence, advanced drugs, nanoscale structures and devices, and crystal engineering. This review focuses on the synthesis, photochemical and electrochemical properties of the special class of the full-conjugated polygonal macrocyclic metallosupramolecules. The problems existed in this research field and possible prospects are also discussed.