Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly of Arene–Ruthenium Complexes: From Design to Applications

Arene–ruthenium complexes have emerged as versatile building blocks in supramolecular chemistry because of their structural stability and predictable coordination geometry. This review summarizes the development of arene–ruthenium assemblies, from early coordination-driven designs to more advanced functional systems. We discuss the strategies enabling the construction of well-defined 2D and 3D supramolecular structures, with a focus on how geometry controls cavity formation, guest encapsulation and functionality. The introduction of chirality in these assemblies and its implication for stereochemical control is also discussed. Moreover, the reactivity and stability of arene–ruthenium systems under biological conditions are discussed, including their sensitivity to nucleophiles, amino acids and proteins. In addition to structural and functional aspects, applications of arene–ruthenium assemblies are presented, including host–guest chemistry, drug delivery, and anticancer activity, confirming their role as multifunctional supramolecular platforms.