Editorial [Hot Topic: Theoretical Organic Chemistry (Guest Editors: Qing-Xiang Guo and Lei Liu)]

This issue is about theoretical organic chemistry, a versatile discipline that has contributed considerably to the understanding of how organic molecules react. It is our greatest pleasure to share with the readers the wonderful reviews by some of the eminent scientists in this field. The interesting chemistry of rare-gas containing organic molecules is reviewed by Prof. McDowell from University of Cambridge, England. The recent advances about the theory of substituent effects are reviewed by Prof. Exner and Prof. Böhm from Czech Republic. Prof. Mo from Western Michigan University of USA has reviewed the orbital deletion procedure and its application to intramolecular electron transfer of organic compounds. Prof. Tsuzuki and co-workers from National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology of Japan have reviewed the advances about the intermolecular interactions ( π/ π, OH/π , NH/π and cation/π interactions) of aromatic molecules. Prof. Alkorta and co-workers from Instituto de Química Médica at Madrid have reviewed the theoretical studies on chiral discrimination. The exciting chemistry of supramolecular structures such as rotaxanes is reviewed by Prof. Jaime and co-workers from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Prof. Castro and co-workers from Argentina have reviewed the molecular modeling studies of cyclodextrin complexes. Finally, Prof. Sordo and co-workers from Spain have reviewed the theoretical studies on ring opening chemistry of β-lactams in solution and in enzymatic media.