Proton‐Dependent Monomer–Oligomer Interconversion of Metal Complexes

Abstract

The reversible reaction of a monomeric CuII complex to a cyclic hexamer (crystal structures shown below) is the first example interconversion between a potential guest complex and a complex that cannot function as a guest [Eq. (a)]. It is—like in living organisms—controlled by a very common external signal, namely proton supply or abstraction.