The C-Cl⋯N halogen bond, the weaker relative of the C-I and C-Br⋯N halogen bonds, finally characterized in solution

Infrared spectra of solutions in cryogenic solvents reveal the formation of van der Waals complexes of trifluoro halomethanes CF3X (X = Cl, Br, I) with trimethylamine, with strengths varying between −8.9 and −28.7 kJ mol−1.