Crystal Ball Gazing

While it would be pleasant to think that we have a developed sophisticated theory and knowledge of coordination compounds, the reality is that we have no more than scratched the surface. The wealth of research papers that continue to use words such as 'remarkable' 'unusual' and even 'unprecedented' suggest that our voyage of discovery has hardly begun. So where could this voyage take us? Here are a few possibilities:

• ligands that bind with exceptionally high selectivity and rapidity to a particular metal, allowing new ways of recovering and analysing the metals to be developed;
• synthetic complexes that offer specificity as catalysts of selected organic reactions and that can operate in aqueous solution, eliminating the need for organic solvents;
•  in a similar vein, low molecular weight synthetic analogues of natural complexes that function as effectively as metalloenzymes in promoting certain specific reactions;
• metallodrugs that have ligand environments that allow delivery to the site of action in vivo with very high selectivity, thus limiting side effects and lowering required doses;
• ligands that through their purpose-designed strong and selective complexation abilities but low production cost allow in situ mining of ore deposits in the ground with circulated aqueous solutions without the need for removing the ore;
• robust phosphorescent complexes tuneable through ligand selection to produce any desired colour of light, for use in optical displays;
• new magnetic materials for higher density data storage media– magnetic materials that are ‘molecular magnets’, being composed of low molecular weight polymetallic complexes;
• solid phases with unusual properties derived through the construction of new nanomate rials from small component complexes. The list could go on, but perhaps you get the idea well enough, and you may be able to think of others to add. A complex to catalyse the conversion of carbon dioxide to a useful product, perhaps? All seems a little unlikely? Well, one word that should be used in science with great caution is ‘impossible’. In fact, most of the above are under some stage of current develop ment. Coordination chemistry has thrown up some wondrous outcomes in the past century of effort so who can know where it is going to take us. Just book your ticket and get on board.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

تعرف إلى منافذ جمع التبرعات لدعم الشعبين الإيراني واللبناني

قسم الشؤون الدينية يستأنف دوراته الفقهية لمنتسبي العتبة العباسية المقدسة

قسم الشؤون الفكرية يعلن أسماء الفائزين في مسابقة (فنروى) الثقافية

سماحة السيد الصافي: للشعب العراقي علاقة مميزة مع المرجعية الدينية العليا وتفاعل إيجابي مع توجيهاتها الإنسانية

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

مؤشرات يومية بسيطة تتفوق على الفحوصات الطبية في التنبؤ بالعمر المتوقع !

كيف تؤثر العناية بالأسنان على صحة الكبد؟

نتائج حديثة مقلقة حول القنب والتبغ

الشوكولاتة وحدها لا تسبب السكري.. عوامل أخرى مؤثرة

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

بسبب الحروب: أزمة الألمنيوم وتأثيرها على صناعة السيارات

انقطاع مؤقت للاتصال مع طاقم "أرتميس 2" خلال الرحلة إلى القمر

واشنطن تضغط على حلفاءها لتعزيز سلاسل توريد الحوسبة الكمومية

لماذا يصر دونالد ترامب على العودة إلى القمر؟

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Molecular Symmetry: The Point Group

Organometallic Compounds

Bridging Ligands

Organic Molecules as Ligands

Multipliers

Polydenticity

Taking Stock

Complex Futures

Better Ways to Synthesize Fine Organic Chemicals

Industrial Roles for Ligands and Coordination Complexes

Metal Extraction

Fluoroionophores