Aromaticity and hydrogen bonding are traditionally considered to be largely separate ideas in chemistry. We find however, that just as a change in aromaticity can enhance chemical reactivity (e.g., consider the effect of an aromatic transition state on a cycloaddition reaction)—a change in aromaticity can perturb the strengths of hydrogen bonding interactions (and even more exotic types of noncovalent interactions).

Self-immolative chemistry has undergone rapid development in the past decades and led to molecular systems that possesses stimuli-responsive releasing properties. The unique self-immolative spacers serve as the fundamental component at these systems. They covalently link reagent-responsive group and a reporter moiety and can structurally “sacrifice” themselves in order to implement their designated function.