The σ-hole and π-hole are the regions with positive surface electrostatic potential on the molecule entity; the former specifically refers to the positive region of a molecular entity along extension of the Y-Ge/P/Se/X covalent σ-bond (Y = electron-rich group; Ge/P/Se/X = Groups IV-VII), while the latter refers to the positive region in the direction perpendicular to the σ-framework of the molecular entity. The directional noncovalent interactions between the σ-hole or π-hole and the negative or electron-rich sites are named σ-hole bond or π-hole bond, respectively. The contributions from electrostatic, charge transfer, and other terms or Coulombic interaction to the σ-hole bond and π-hole bond were reviewed first followed by a brief discussion on the interplay between the σ-hole bond and the π-hole bond as well as application of the two types of noncovalent interactions in the field of anion recognition. It is expected that this review could stimulate further development of the σ-hole bond and π-hole bond in theoretical exploration and practical application in the future.

A sister noncovalent bond to halogen bond, termed chalcogen bond, is defined in this article. By selecting the complexes H(2)CS...Cl(-), F(2)CS...Cl(-), OCS...Cl(-), and SCS...Cl(-) as models, the bond-length change, interaction energy, topological property of the electron charge density and its Laplacian, and the charge transfer of the chalcogen bond have been investigated in detail theoretically. It was found that the similar misshaped electron clouds of the chalcogen atom and the halogen atom result in the similar properties of the chalcogen bond and the halogen bond. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

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A new type of intermolecular bond, termed a blueshifting halogen bond, is found in the chlorotrifluoromethane-, bromotrifluoromethane-, chlorotrifluorosilicane-, and chlorodifluoroamine-related complexes. Counterpoisecorrected gradient optimization performed at a correlated ab initio level (MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p)) shows a shortening of the C-Cl (C-Br, Si-Cl, or N-Cl) bond of the proton donor and a blueshifting of the corresponding C-Cl (C-Br, Si-Cl, or N-Cl) stretching frequency. In contrast to the conventional hydrogen bond and the blueshifting hydrogen bond, the topological and electronic properties and the origin of blueshifting halogen bond are also investigated.