Theoretical Chemistry and Quantum Chemical Computation: New Perspectives on Symmetry and Asymmetry in Molecular Systems

A Special Issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994) belonging to the section "D: Chemistry: Symmetry/Asymmetry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 1204

Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Innovative Centre of the Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: hydrogen bonds; coordination chemistry; quantum-chemical calculations; non-covalent interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Theoretical chemistry, supported by advanced quantum chemical methods, is fundamental to understanding molecular structure, chemical reactivity, and the intricate behavior of molecules. These tools provide crucial insights into the principles governing symmetry and asymmetry in chemical systems.

For this Special Issue of Symmetry, titled “Theoretical Chemistry and Quantum Chemical Computation: New Perspectives on Symmetry and Asymmetry in Molecular Systems”, we welcome original research exploring symmetry-related aspects of molecular structure, electronic properties, and reactivity. Topics include asymmetric synthesis, chiral catalysts, enantiomer separation, X-ray crystallography, molecular clusters, coordination chemistry, and related fields.

We encourage you to contribute and share your findings in this innovative field.

Dr. Jelena Živković
Dr. Dušan Dimić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coordination chemistry
  • asymmetric synthesis
  • biocatalysts
  • quantum chemistry calculations
  • X-ray crystallography
  • enantiomer recognition
  • circular dichroism

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 1370 KB  
Article
Substitution Driven Local Symmetry Effect in Halogen–π Complexes of Alkenes and Alkynes: A Quantum Chemical Study
by Jelena M. Živković, Sonja S. Zrilić, Snežana D. Zarić, Nebojša Đ. Pantelić and Dušan S. Dimić
Symmetry 2026, 18(6), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18060974 - 4 Jun 2026
Viewed by 671
Abstract
This study presents a quantum chemical investigation of halogen–π interactions involving halogen molecules (F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2) and a series of π-systems, including benzene, alkenes, and alkynes. Special emphasis is placed on the role [...] Read more.
This study presents a quantum chemical investigation of halogen–π interactions involving halogen molecules (F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2) and a series of π-systems, including benzene, alkenes, and alkynes. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the position of the unsaturated bond (terminal vs. internal) in determining the strength and nature of these interactions. Geometry optimizations and interaction energies were calculated at the wB97X-D3/def2-TZVPP level of theory, with additional validation against CCSD(T)/CBS data. Energy decomposition analysis using SAPT0 and QTAIM analysis were also performed. The results show a clear increase in interaction strength from F2 to I2, with interaction energies ranging from −0.47 to −5.61 kcal/mol. The position of the double or triple bond and the local symmetry of the π-system significantly influence interaction energies, with internal and more substituted alkenes and alkynes forming stronger interactions than terminal analogs. SAPT analysis shows that halogen–π interactions are governed by a balance of electrostatic and dispersion contributions, with electrostatics representing the largest attractive term in most cases, whereas dispersion becomes increasingly important for heavier halogens and more extended π-systems and benzene. QTAIM analysis confirms the noncovalent nature of these interactions, with increasing electron density at bond critical points correlating with stronger binding. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop