To build new functional materials non-covalent interactions play a major role in today's chemistry. They provide a large plethora of possibilities to mimic nature and create systems with functions or reactivities that could otherwise not be reached. In this PhD thesis unorthodox anion-π interactions were explored. NDI foldamers up to tetramers were designed synthesized and investigated for their stacking behavior. They were successfully employed in homogeneous catalysis of enolate additions to nitroolefins to prove that synergistic effects between π-π stacking and anion- π interactions exist and can give access to remarkable catalytic activities. Additionally, highly polarizable single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes were applied in the same reaction. The synergy between polarizability along and between the tubes in multiwalled carbon nanotubes covalently and non-covalently functionalized with tertiary amines lead to unprecedented activities despite the heterogeneous nature of the systems. Finally attempts with surface catalysts polarized by electric fields were made.