About this Research Topic
The knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry in modifying the covalent backbones of molecules, and inducing functional groups or substituents at specific sites in order to explore intra- and intermolecular non-covalent interactions beyond single molecules, has led to a new domain called ‘’supramolecular chemistry.’’ For more than a century, contemporary chemistry and its applicability has largely been driven by non-covalent interactions to decode nature’s intricate architectures and mechanisms, including enzymes that catalyze C−C bond formations. Intense research of this topic has led not only to the conceptualization and definition of new weak and strong interactions such as halogen, chalcogen, and tetrel bonds with reference to ubiquitous hydrogen bonding, but also methods development developed to characterize even forces in solids, solutions, and gas-phases. Today, the self-assembly process has become part of the chemist’s powerful toolkit for engineering molecules into stable and well-defined structures under thermodynamic conditions—particularly biological molecules that demand strict complementarity in size and shape. More importantly, the knowledge of all forms of chemistry disciplines (synthetic, analytical, physical, and theoretical) has made supramolecular chemistry an interface between chemistry, biology and materials sciences.
This Research Topic features advances in arranging discrete molecules and extended material systems by rational design of halogen bonding non-covalent interactions that make up part of the supramolecular chemist’s toolkit. The goal of this thematic article collection, therefore, is to compile an invigorating collection of research articles from the supramolecular community with research interests in understanding the self-assembly of molecules, targeting their applicability in e.g., crystal engineering, inclusion phenomena, anion recognition, sensors, thermo- and photo- responsive materials, and organic-inorganic hybrid supramolecular complexes. We also welcome contributions involving mechanochemistry, an emerging strategy based on grinding/ball-milling into synthesis organic compounds, for halogen bonded supramolecular networks and materials chemistry applications.
Contributions will focus on halogen bonding in supramolecular chemistry, in terms of both experimental and computational research, and/or utilizing these interactions in ion recognition, organic thesis, biology, and functional materials. Our scope includes the following themes:
• Halogen bonded supramolecular assembly.
• Nature and strength of halogen bonding.
• Application of halogen bonding in ion recognition, organic synthesis, biology and functional materials.
Keywords: halogen bonding, self-assembly, crystal engineering
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
