Supramolecular catalysis based on discrete heterometallic coordination-driven metallacycles and metallacages

Abstract The rational design and facile construction of discrete heterometallic supramolecular catalysts have precipitated a surge of research interest in emulating sophisticated natural catalysts with well-defined cavities and inlaid active sites, allowing conversion of encapsulated substrates with high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. This review briefly highlights such discrete, heterometallic, coordination-driven metallacycles and metallacages obtained by the strategic utilization of a range of predesigned building blocks in the supramolecular chemist’s toolkit. The two major synthetic strategies toward these metalla-architectures are presented, and special attention has been paid to discussing both the fascinating structures and the unique catalytic performance of various heterometallic macrocycles and cages.