The principal aim of the following project is the development and diversification of research competencies of the applicant by means of advanced training through research in a multi-disciplinary field.Thus, the project lies on the borderline of two rapidly developing fields of research: anion recognition and the development of smart functional materials.Grid-like cation complexes, comprising two-dimensional arrays of metal cations connecting a set of organic ligands in a perpendicular arrangement, were actively studied in recent years owing to their unique physical and chemical properties.On the contrary, grid-like anion complexes have not been described so far. The present project is concerned with the design, synthesis and investigation of ligands able to self-assemble into grid-like structures upon anion binding.Two types of grid-like complexes will be developed:- zwitterionic [2×2] grids, built from two cations and two anions;- anion [2×2] grids, composed of four identical anions.To construct zwitterionic grids, heteroditopic ligands having both anion and cation binding sites will be designed and synthesised. These ligands will be subjected to two-stage self-assembly process, comprising of- the reaction with transition metal salts of weakly coordinating anions, leading to corner-type cation complexes having vacant anion binding sites, and- anion exchange leading to the assembly of grid complexes.Anion grids will be constructed from positively charged, but purely organic homoditopic ligands, having two identical anion binding sites, by self-assembly upon anion exchange.The realisation of the above project will allow for the transfer of know-how necessary to reach the position of professional maturity and to start independent career.