The halogen‐bonding interaction is one of the rising stars in supramolecular chemistry. Although other weak interactions and their influence on the structure and chemistry of various molecules, complexes and materials have been investigated thoroughly, the field of halogen bonding is still quite unexplored and its impact on chemistry in general is yet to be fully revealed. In principle, every Y–X bond (Y = electron‐withdrawing atom or moiety, X = halogen atom) can act as a halogen‐bond donor when the halogen is polarized enough by Y. Perfluorohalocarbons are iconic halogen‐bond donor molecules in which Y is a perfluorinated aryl or alkyl moiety and X is either iodine or bromine. In this article, alternative halogen‐bond motifs such as X2···A and Ar–X···A [A = Lewis basic halogen‐bond‐accepting atom of a molecule or ion; Ar = neutral or charged (hetero)aromatic system] are reviewed. In addition, haloalkenes, haloalkynes, N‐haloamides and other non‐metallic halogen‐bond donors and their respective halogen‐bonded structures will also be described. Although purely organic halogen‐bonding motifs are very prominent, the role of metal complexes in halogen bonding is becoming increasingly evident as well, which is also reflected in this review. Finally, halogen bonding in solution is briefly highlighted. Contemporary research is proving that halogen bonding is more than a solid‐state phenomenon and is now a well‐recognized weak interaction in chemistry.

London dispersion forces are the weakest interactions between molecules. Because of this, their influence on chemical processes is often low, but can definitely not be ignored and even becomes important in case of molecules with large contact surfaces. Hierarchically assembled dinuclear titanium(IV) helicates represent a rare example in which the direct observation of London dispersion forces is possible in solution even in the presence of strong cohesive solvent effects. Hereby, the dispersion forces do not unlimitedly support the formation of the dimeric complexes. Although they have some favorable enthalpic contribution to the dimerization of the monomeric complex units, large flexible substituents become conformationally restricted by the interactions leading to an entropic disadvantage. The dimeric helicates are entropically destabilized.

An asymmetric organocatalytic domino oxa-Michael/1,6-addition reaction of ortho-hydroxyphenyl-substituted para-quinone methides and isatin-derived enoates has been developed. In the presence of 5 mol % of a bifunctional thiourea organocatalyst, this scalable domino reaction affords 4-phenyl-substituted chromans bearing spiro-connected oxindole scaffolds and three adjacent stereogenic centers in good to excellent yields (up to 98 %) and with very high stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r., >99 % ee).

Aggregation of 2-acylaminopyridines and their 6-methyl derivatives in chloroform solution was studied by (1)H, (13)C, and (15)N NMR spectroscopies. The results were compared with (13)C and (15)N CPMAS NMR and IR spectral as well as with X-ray structural data. Intermolecular interactions in solution and in solid state were found to have a similar nature. Relatively strong N(amide)-H···N(pyridine) intermolecular hydrogen bonds enable dimerization to take place. Steric interactions in N-pivaloyl- and N-1-adamantylcarbonyl as well as that caused by the 6-methyl group hinder formation of the dimeric aggregates stabilized by the N(amide)-H···N(pyridine) intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In general, the DFT optimized geometries of the aggregates in chloroform solution are in agreement with the X-ray crystal structures. Wavenumbers of the stretching vibration band of the C═O group were also found indicative of the type of hydrogen bond present in the solid state.

Coordinatively unsaturated double-stranded helicates [(H2 L)2 Eu2 (NO3 )2 (H2 O)4 ](NO3 )4 , [(H2 L)2 Tb2 (H2 O)6 ](NO3 )6 , and [(H2 L)2 Tb2 (H2 O)6 ]Cl6 (H2 L=butanedioicacid-1,4-bis[2-(2-pyridinylmethylene)hydrazide]) are easily obtained by self-assembly from the ligand and the corresponding lanthanide(III) salts. The complexes are characterized by X-ray crystallography showing the helical arrangement of the ligands. Co-ligands at the metal ions can be easily substituted by appropriate anions. A specific luminescence response of AMP in presence of ADP, ATP, and other anions is observed. Specificity is assigned to the perfect size match of AMP to bridge the two metal centers and to replace quenching co-ligands in the coordination sphere.

Pause and play: dihydrooxazine oxides are stable intermediates that are protonated directly, without the intermediacy of the zwitterions, in organocatalytic Michael additions of aldehydes and nitroalkenes (see scheme, R=alkyl). Protonation of these species explains both the role of the acid co-catalyst in these reactions, and the observed stereochemistry when the reaction is conducted with α-alkylnitroalkenes.

Hold them tight: Guided by X-ray structures, bifunctional thiourea catalysts containing an activating intramolecular hydrogen bond were redesigned. The new catalysts were used to effect a highly enantioselective Mannich reaction between malonates and both aliphatic and aromatic imines (see scheme; Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl).

The directionality of interaction of electron-deficient π systems with spherical anions (e.g,. halides) can be controlled by secondary effects like NH or CH hydrogen bonding. In this study a series of pentafluorophenyl-substituted salts with polyhalide anions is investigated. The compounds are obtained by aerobic oxidation of the corresponding halide upon crystallization. Solid-state structures reveal that in bromide 2, directing NH-anion interactions position the bromide ion in an η(1)-type fashion over but not in the center of the aromatic ring. The same directing forces are effective in corresponding tribromide salt 3. In the crystal, the bromide ion is paneled by four electron-deficient aromatic ring systems. In addition, compounds 4 and 6, which have triiodide and the rare tetraiodide dianion as anions, are described. Computational studies reveal that the latter is highly unstable. In the present case it is stabilized by the crystal lattice, for example, by interaction with electron-deficient π systems.