Superstructured transition metial complexex -- A basis for functioning molecules

This paper looks at the area of coordination chemistry as it relates to the problem of binding metal ions into complexes. This field has evolved greatly over the years, and at present there is much interest in developing molecular species which will bind with metal ions to remove them from various process steams for different reasons. The binding needs to be strong enough to hold the ions, but also not so strong as to override the process objectives. The author discusses how the host chemical environment, and the effect of the bound ion are taken into account in the design of new complexing agents