Electrochemical activation of halogen bonding

In the past, noncovalent interactions have been extensively studied by electrochemical methods. In this context, halogen bonding (XB) has been a long-time overlooked item in the toolbox of supramolecular chemistry. The article is treating electrochemical activation of XB in solution and at the solid-liquid interface. Key principles and recent work on the use of electrochemistry as a tool for detecting and controlling XB are reported. Different types of redox-switching XB are identified in the context of molecular recognition and detection. First evidence for XB promoted electron transfer reactions involving the activation of covalent bonds represents a completely new and emerging domain, ripe for exploration.