Special issue: practical applications of metal complexes.

Area of Science:

• Coordination Chemistry
• Inorganic-Organic Chemistry Interface

Background:

• Alfred Werner's Nobel Prize-winning work laid the foundation for modern coordination chemistry.
• The isolation of numerous metal-ion and organic-ligand complexes established a crucial link between inorganic and organic chemistry.
• Coordination compounds exhibit diverse properties with widespread applications.

Discussion:

• This special issue features fourteen contributions on metal complexes and their applications.
• A significant focus is on the biological activity of complexes, including cytotoxicity, antibacterial effects, and enzyme inhibition.
• Optical properties are explored for applications in photodynamic therapy and bioanalysis.

Key Insights:

• Metal complexes show promise for clinical applications due to their biological activities.
• The catalytic potential of metal complexes is demonstrated in several studies.
• Other reported properties include radioactivity and the design of metal-organic frameworks.

Outlook:

• Further research into the biological and optical properties of metal complexes could lead to novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents.
• The development of metal complexes as catalysts and in materials science (e.g., metal-organic frameworks) remains an active area.
• Continued exploration of coordination chemistry promises innovative solutions across various scientific and technological domains.