Tuning the Functional Properties of Metal Complexes Containing Polytopic Heteroaromatic Nitrogen Ligands

Abstract The preparation, characterization, and optimization of the functional properties of mono‐ and polynuclear coordination complexes containing heteroaromatic nitrogen ligands are discussed here, taking the advantage of numerous studies performed in our laboratories on exploring a variety of different metal ions and polytopic ligands. We highlight how very minor changes in connectivity, composition, and polarity of the molecular entities employed in the self‐assembly steps may significantly affect the structural, thermal, sorptive, magnetic, and mesomorphic behavior of the resulting materials. Examples from three different classes are included: 1) pyrazolate‐based polynuclear coordination compounds, 2) homoleptic and heteroleptic coordination polymers, and 3) 2,2′‐bipyridine metal‐based liquid crystals.