Uncovering tetrazoles as building blocks for constructing discrete and polymeric assemblies

Metal-organic self-assembly with flexible moieties is a budding field of research due to the possibility of the formation of unique architectures. Tetrazole, characterised by four nitrogen atoms in a five-member ring, exhibits immense potential as a component. Tetrazole offers four coordination sites for binding to the metal centre with nine distinct binding modes, leading to various assemblies. This review highlights different polymeric and discrete tetrazole-based assemblies and their functions. The meticulous manipulation of stoichiometry, ligands, and metal ions required for constructing discrete assemblies has also been discussed. The different applications of these architectures in separation, catalysis and detection have also been accentuated. The latter section of the review consolidates tetrazole-based cage composites, highlighting their applications in cell imaging and photocatalytic applications. This review introduces tetrazoles as the building blocks. The tetrazole ring offers four nitrogens, thereby assisting in multiple binding sites. The consequence is usually polymeric networks, but meticulous stratagem can form discrete cages as well.