The anion–π interaction: naissance and establishment of a peculiar supramolecular bond

A decade of thorough theoretical and experimental investigations has established the anion–π interaction as a new and important supramolecular bond. The present review describes the physical nature of this noncovalent interaction, the different (structural) factors that can influence its strength, and three state-of-the-art literature reports illustrating its rational utilization for the development of anion receptors and biological applications.