Metallo(salen) complexes as versatile building blocks for the fabrication of molecular materials and devices with tuned properties

•[M(salen)] complexes are very versatile coordination compounds.•Molecular based materials can be prepared by [M(salen)] immobilization into solid supports.•[M(salen)] complexes can be used as building blocks for the preparation of supramolecular aggregates or metallopolymers.•[M(salen)]-based materials with fine-tuned properties can be used in chemical catalytic applications.•[M(salen)]-based materials with fine-tuned properties can be used in renewable energy related applications.