Innumerable macromolecular-metal complexes have been synthesized to develop the chemistry for catalysis, electronics and other materials. The structural variety is one of the significant advantages to use these materials. However, the structural definition is very difficult and far from the well-defined biological complexes called “metallo-protein”. Recent development on nano-fabrications with organic synthesis, self-assembly and other bottom-up methods would make great advance of these materials to the next stage. Metal complexes based on dendrimer architecture (metallo-dendrimers) are the best examples as artificial models to approach the metallo-protein. This review focuses on how we should design the metal-organic nano-architecture based on a dendrimer scaffold. Applications for new class of catalysts are also described.
My first encounter with atomic force microscope through the polymer research in my school days was described. Atomic force microscope visualized nano-scopic world not visible by eye and charmed me quite a lot. My recent studies on a mechanical property measurement on a single polymer chain (nanofishing) are also motivated by this encounter.