Supramolecular architectures with pyridine-amide based ligands: discrete molecular assemblies and their applications

Recent years have seen a surge of interest in supramolecular architectures with the focus shifting towards generating discrete molecular assemblies and factors controlling their formation. Such molecular assemblies offer a wide range of applications which are often architecture-dependent. To construct such assemblies, nitrogen-donor ligands have been intensively employed to generate an assorted variety of topologies. Out of various nitrogen-donor ligands, pyridine-amide based ligands stand out as they not only offer structural flexibility and their ability to adjust to the geometrical requirements of a metal ion but also offer dual functional groups: pyridine and amide. The present perspective will focus on recent developments in the design of discrete supramolecular assemblies utilizing pyridine-amide based ligands with a specific stress on the architectural aspects and subsequent applications of designed molecular assemblies.