Exploring Synergy and Cooperativity in d -Block Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes

The present review focuses on the scientific reports from the last decade on heterobimetallic complexes based on d-block transition metals showing increased or modified properties due to the presence of two different metal centers in their molecular backbone and progress in challenging areas such as catalysis, medicine and electro-optics. The review emphasizes synergistic and/or cooperative contributions of the two different metal centers when comparing activities with their monometallic analogues or activities of homobimetallic mixtures. This behavior may be a result of the direct metal–metal electronic interaction or an effect arising from slight changes in coordination environments around the metal ions. Finally, the enhanced activities of the heterobimetallic complexes may also arise from the overall adjustments of the physicochemical properties induced by the binuclear scaffold.