We report the first use of solution-phase halogen bonding to control and facilitate the assembly of an interlocked structure through the bromide anion-templated formation of a rotaxane based upon an iodotriazolium axle. The incorporation of a halogen atom into the rotaxane host cavity dramatically improves the anion-recognition capabilities of the interlocked receptor, giving unusual iodide selectivity in a competitive aqueous medium.

The copper-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction between a propargyl-appended europium complex and azidomethylferrocene yields a d-f dyad whose photophysical properties can be reversibly switched by varying the oxidation state of the ferrocene chromophore.

Halogen bonding has been exploited in the assembly of an interpenetrated molecular system. The strength of chloride‐anion‐templated pseudorotaxane formation with a 2‐bromo‐functionalized imidazolium threading component and an isophthalamide macrocycle (see picture) is significantly enhanced compared to hydrogen‐bonded pseudorotaxane analogues.

Two series of triphenylphosphine-stabilized diphenyl-arsenium, -stibenium, and -bismuthenium salts of the types [(Ph 3 P)EPh 2 ]PF 6 (where E ) As, Sb, Bi) and [(Ph 3 P) 2 EPh 2 ]PF 6 (where E ) Sb, Bi) have been synthesized and their structures and bonding investigated by X-ray crystallography and density functional theory at the PBE/TZP level. The coordination geometries around the central group 15 elements are distorted trigonal pyramidal in the mono(triphenylphosphine) complexes and distorted trigonal bipyramidal in the bis(triphenylphosphine) complexes, where in each case the stereochemically active lone pair of the six-electron, angular diphenyl-arsenium, -stibenium, or -bismuthenium ion occupies an equatorial position in the trigonal plane containing the C-E-C bonds. For the complexes [(Ph 3 P)EPh 2 ]-PF 6 (E ) As, Sb, Bi), the theoretical results for the cations are consistent with the dative covalent formulation [Ph 3 PfEPh 2 ] + , especially for E ) As and Sb, but for [(Ph 3 P) 2 EPh 2 ]PF 6 (E ) Sb, Bi) the bonding between the phosphines and the stibenium or bisthmuthenium ion is best described as an induced dipole-ion interaction.