title: Metal-Ligand Exchange in a Cyclic Array: The Stepwise Advancement of Supramolecular Complexity.
abstract: Herein, we demonstrate how the supramolecular complexity (evaluated by the degree of self-sorting M) evolves in a chemical cycle of cascaded metallosupramolecular transformations, using abiological self-assembled entities as input signals. Specifically, the successive addition of the supramolecular self-assembled structures S1 and (T2 + S2) to the starting supramolecular two-component equilateral triangle T1 (M = 1) first induced a fusion into the three-component quadrilateral R1 (M = 6) and then to the five-component scalene triangle T3 (M = 16). Upon the addition of the supramolecular input M1 to T3, a notable self-sorting event occurred, leading to regeneration of the triangle T1 along with formation of the scalene triangle T4 (M = 25). This last step closed the cycle of the supramolecular transformations.
authors.affiliation: Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and Engineering, Organische Chemie I, Universität Siegen , Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 2, D-57068 Siegen, Germany.
authors.forename: Manik Lal
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and Engineering, Organische Chemie I, Universität Siegen , Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 2, D-57068 Siegen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmittel