Chemistry Evolves, Terms Evolve, but Phenomena Do Not Evolve: From Chalcogen-Chalcogen Interactions to Chalcogen Bonding

Abstract

Chalcogen bonding is important in numerous aspects of chemistry, both in the solid state and in solution. Surveying the literature, it becomes clear that during its rebranding from chalcogen-chalcogen interactions, some parts of the community have somewhat neglected to recall its discovery and the initial studies referring to it in its previous guise. In this Viewpoint, we trace the path of research into this phenomenon, from its discovery, through its renaming, and to some of the varied and interesting chemistry it has led to so far, ranging from crystal engineering through supramolecular assembly to modern catalysis.

Keywords: anion recognition; catalysis; chalcogen bonding; chalcogen-chalcogen interactions; solid-state structures.