Spacer directed metallo-supramolecular assemblies of pyridine carboxylates

N,O-donating spacers are members of a class of ambidentate donors used in supramolecular self-assemblies. The skeletal adaptability and coordination flexibility of these ligands enable them to support a myriad of discrete molecular systems and extended network materials. This review focuses on pyridinecarboxylates as a representative of N,O-hetero-donating spacers and describes their recent developments in the coordination assemblies and highlights their functions and potential applications. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.