New applications of van der Waals radii in chemistry

This review is part of a continuing study of the many applications of van der Waals radii (WR) in various fields of chemistry, and especially in crystal chemistry and stereochemistry. An analysis of relevant publications has shown that WR systems are used most often and most successfully in studies of the conformation of molecules, though their original source is usually an analysis of intermolecular contacts. This review will deal with traditional applications of WR and with some some new aspects, inducing the geometrical modelling of chemical reactions and new types of specific intermolecular interactions. The bibliography includes 149 references.