Halogen Bonding in Solution: Anion Recognition, Templated Self-Assembly, and Organocatalysis.

The halogen bond is a supramolecular interaction between a Lewis-acidic region of a covalently bound halogen and a Lewis base. It has been studied widely in silico and experimentally in the solid state; however, solution-phase applications have attracted enormous interest in the last few years. This Minireview highlights selected recent developments in halogen bond interactions in solution, with a focus on the use of receptors based on halogen bonds in anion recognition and sensing, anion-templated self-assembly, as well as in organocatalysis.