Chalcogen, Halogen and Pnictogen Bonding Interactions for Molecular Recognition and Catalysis

Part of the Molecular Materials & Catalysis for a Cleaner Future Series.

Chalcogen (ChB), halogen (XB), and pnictogen bonding (PnB) refer to attractive non-covalent interactions between the electrophilic region of a chalcogen, halogen, or pnictogen atom. These interactions arise from an anisotropic distribution of electron density at the atom's surface, creating a highly localized region of electron deficiency capable of functioning as a Lewis acid, analogous to hydrogen bonding (HB). Recent breakthroughs have demonstrated that ChB, XB, and PnB are exquisitely tunable in terms of affinity and selectivity, surpassing that of traditional HB interactions.

In supramolecular chemistry, the tailored use of non-covalent interactions is central. The employment of ChB, XB, and PnB presents a unique opportunity to develop and design the next generation of systems for strong and selective molecular recognition and catalysis. Herein, we explore current milestone achievements and exciting new frontiers that exploit these interaction types.

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