optoelectronics (57,58), magnetic materials (59,60), liquid crystals
( 61 – 63 ), templates of mesoporous materials (64,65), biologically
active compounds ( 66 ), magnetic resonance imaging (56,67), drug
delivery (68,69), and homogeneous catalysis ( 70 – 74 ).
However, much effort has been devoted for shedding light onto
the fundamental understanding of the interior structure and
dynamics of soft self-assembling materials, as micelles, vesicles,
and microemulsion(53,75).
Several papers reported on the spatial determination of
photoactive molecule in organized assemblies ( 76 – 79 ), and
Pallavicini and coworkers reviewed on the use of luminescence
as probe in self-assembly of multicomponent fluorescent sensors
( 80 ). Also, luminescence quenching studies on [Ru(bpy) 3 ]^2 þ in
sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and hemimicelles by using
a variety of quenchers were reported by Turro and coworkers ( 81 )
and then reviewed by De Schryver and coworkers ( 82 ).
Initial studies focused on the lyotropic phase behavior of [Ru
(bpy) 3 ]^2 þand [Ru(tpy) 2 ]^2 þsystems (83,84), but the first example
of micellization was actually observed in solutions of nonlabile
metallosurfactants containing a [Co(polyamine)]^3 þcenter ( 85 ).
In this area, Bruce and coworkers extensively reported on
amphiphilic metal-containing compounds able to display meso-
morphic properties (metallomesogens) (86,87). Most of these
systems are designed for catalytic purposes ( 88 ), to act as
templating agents for mesoporous materials ( 89 ), and for
optoelectronic application (see d^8 -based systems). Moreover,
Bruce devoted intensive work to the fundamental understanding
of the structure–properties relationship and, in particular, on the
role played by the molecular parameters of metal-containing
mesogenic molecules, as geometry and volume of the ligands,
nature and size of the metal center, on determining aggregation
properties and arrangement features of the systems as well as
liquid crystalline behavior ( 90 – 93 ).
Verani and coworkers widely investigated stimuli-responsive
soft materials with interesting optical and redox behaviors. Such
materials are able to self-assembly in functional ordered
structures, as Langmuir–Blodgett films and liquid crystals, and
possess potential applications in molecular electronics and
magnetic films as well. These compounds are mainly based on
Co(II) ( 94 ), Co(III) ( 95 ), Cu(II) ( 96 ), Fe(II)/Fe(III) ( 97 ), and Ni
(II) and Zn(II) ( 98 ). A recent overview dedicated to colloidal sys-
tems, and their application in different fields has recently
appeared in the literature ( 99 ).
Among all the different coordinating ligands employed, dialkyl-
phenantroline and bipyridines have been successfully used in the
60 CRISTIAN A. STRASSERTet al.