Anion and ion-pair receptor chemistry: highlights from 2000 and 2001

This review article highlights advances made in abiotic anion coordination chemistry in 2000 and 2001. The structure of this review is that similar to the previous reviews in this series that covered 1997, 1998 and 1999 [P.A. Gale, Coord. Chem. Rev. 199 (2000) 18 1; P.A. Gale, Coord. Chem. Rev. 213 (2001) 79]. The review also includes examples of ion-pair receptors. The first section examines anion receptors that do not contain metal ions. This is followed by a review of metal containing anion receptors in which the metal can function as: (i) a coordination site for the anion; (ii) an agent withdrawing electron density from the receptor; (iii) an organisational element in the receptor; (iv) a sensor; and (v) a co-bound guest in ion-pair receptor. Examples of the role of anions in directing the self-assembly of complex molecular architectures are presented in the final section