Reflexion on molecular tectonics

Abstract

Molecular crystals are solid and periodic materials. These entities may be regarded as supramolecular architectures and thus be described as molecular networks, which are infinite molecular assemblies possessing translational symmetry and composed of complementary or self-complementary tectons capable of mutual interactions. This way of analysing structural features of crystalline materials called molecular tectonics not only permits crystals to be described as supramolecular architectures generated through molecular recognition processes but also allows molecular networks to be conceived with predicted connectivity and thus dimensionality through the design of tectons. A formal description and analysis of molecular networks is given.