Halogens can be incorporated into many useful organic molecules and fine chemicals utilized in a wide range of scientific fields, such as natural products, biologically-active compounds, and organic materials. These halogens, as well as halogenated organic compounds, continue to play an important role as resources that make the lives of humans more prosperous. For example, fluorine is essential in the molecular design of medicines, in order to suitably model their characteristics and effectiveness. In addition, chlorine and bromine are not only found in many natural products showing interesting properties, but also utilized as synthetic intermediates for various transformations in modern industrial production.

Iodine atoms in organic compounds can easily take hypervalent forms, which are popularly used for oxidation reactions and cross-couplings as a greener alternative to heavy metal oxidants, as well as transition metal catalysts. Recently, halogen bonding interaction has evolved from a scientific curiosity to general chemical strategy, during the design and manipulation of aggregation processes of organic compounds.

This special issue aims to cover the two main aspects of the unique characteristics of halogens, ‘halogen interaction’ and ‘hypervalent halogen compounds’. We welcome review and original research articles dealing with the recent advances on the theme, for example, halogen bond interaction in the design of organic materials, biological involvement of halogen interaction such as fluorine derivatives, for pharmacokinetic improvements of drugs and drug-like compounds, and the synthesis and reaction of hypervalent halogen compounds.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Halides
• Halogen interaction
• Haloniums
• Hypervalent halogens
• Halogenations
• Halogenating reagents