Themed collection Celebrating 100 Years of Chemistry at Nankai University

In recent years, DNA has been widely noted as a kind of material that can be used to construct building blocks for biosensing, in vivo imaging, drug development, and disease therapy because of its advantages of good biocompatibility and programmable properties.

This review summarizes the applications of grafted semiconducting polymer amphiphiles (SPAs) as multimodal optical nanoagents for cancer imaging and combination phototherapy.

This minireview looks at recent electrodeposition strategies for metal (hydro)oxide design and water oxidation applications, unveiling the unique properties and underlying principles of electrodeposited metal (hydro)oxides in the OER.

A comprehensive summary on how to optimize ester- and ether-based electrolytes for high-performance potassium-ion batteries.

A highly efficient atroposelective N-acylation reaction of quinazolinone type benzamides with cinnamic anhydrides for the direct catalytic synthesis of optically active atropisomeric quinazolinone derivatives was developed.

A solvent-controlled photocatalytic divergent cyclization of alkynyl aldehydes is developed, providing a facile access to sulfonylated cyclopentenones and dihydropyranols under mild conditions.

Herein, we genetically encode an esterified glutamic acid analogue (BnE) into proteins, and demonstrate that BnE can be applied in different types of site-specific protein modifications.

The efficiency of photosensitization and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis is balanced in a recyclable heterogeneous manner by the modification of the N-central conformation in Cd-MIX.

An iridium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of exocyclic γ,δ-unsaturated β-ketoesters via dynamic kinetic resolution was developed, providing efficient protocol for enantioselective synthesis of functionalized chiral allylic alcohols.

Involvement of dimethyl carbonate and trifluoromethanesulfonate anions in a hybrid aqueous electrolyte enables the formation of a new Zn²⁺-solvation structure and a ZnF₂–ZnCO₃-rich interphase that stabilizes the Zn battery chemistry.

A highly efficient and versatile method for construction of peptide macrocycles via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular S-arylation of alkyl and aryl thiols with aryl iodides under mild conditions is developed.

A highly efficient desymmetrizing asymmetric bromination of bisphenol phosphine oxides was developed, providing a wide range of chiral bisphenol phosphine oxides and bisphenol phosphinates with high yields and enantioselectivities.

The catalytic asymmetric Mannich/condensation of glycine ester with aldimines was achieved by merging chiral N,N′-dioxide/Yb^III complex Lewis acid catalysis/carbonyl catalysis under mild condition.

A highly practical method for comprehensive chiroptical sensing of free α amino acids with streamlined operation and high sensitivity via dual CD/UV measurements is developed.

A new type of purely organic light-harvesting PET supramolecular assembly is constructed with efficient energy transfer and ultrahigh antenna effect. Moreover, the assembly could be used for mitochondria targeted imaging in A549 cancer cells.

Li-Substitution in P′2-Na_0.67MnO₂ mitigates the anisotropic change of Mn–O bonds and Na/vacancy ordering, and hence significantly promotes its cycling stability and rate capability as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Aluminum-catalyzed halodefluorination reactions of fluoroalkyl-substituted olefins are developed. The reactions can selectively deliver mono-, di-, or trisubstituted products.

We report a series of palladium(II)-catalyzed, intramolecular alkene hydrofunctionalization reactions with carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen nucleophiles to form five- and six-membered carbo- and heterocycles.

A metallic single-molecule magnet was synthesised demonstrating simultaneous metallic conduction and excellent SMM properties at the same temperature range for the first time, with potential applications in molecule-based quantum spintronics.

In this study, we developed an efficient Ir-catalyzed cascade umpolung allylation/2-aza-Cope rearrangement for the preparation of a variety of quaternary trifluoromethyl α-ε-amino acids in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities.

An oligoethylene glycol functionalized guanidinocalix[4]arene was developed as a safe antidote against heparin, via specific recognition and neutralization of heparin in vitro and in vivo.

Diazaphosphinyl radical-catalyzed chemo-selective deoxygenation of α-carboxy ketones with pinacolborane was achieved through the mechanism switch from direct to stepwise hydride transfer of diazaphosphinane.

AIEgens are exploited to simultaneously extend the conjugation, boost the brightness, and increase the solubility of organic near-infrared fluorophores, representing a new strategy for developing high-performance emitters for biomedical imaging.

We demonstrate that positively-charged NBD amines can effectively scavenge biological H₂S in live cells and in mice.

The mono-base-coordinated 1,2-diboranylidenehydrazine derivatives exhibiting the BNN-1,3-dipolar reactivity toward unactivated arenes and CO₂ are reported.

[Co(bipy)(bptz)(NCS)₂]_n, a new mixed-linker sql coordination network, exhibits high xylene adsorption capacity and high xylene selectivity over ethylbenzene (>5).

Most cancer chemotherapy regimens rely on the use of two or more chemotherapeutic agents. A supramolecular approach that may allow co-delivery of two drugs is described here.

A stimulus-responsive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SR-SERS) technique was developed to selectively profile the comprehensive molecular phenotype of tumor tissues.

We report the first example of photo-induced carbocation-enhanced charge transport in triphenylmethane junctions using the scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM-BJ) technique.

A unique fluorescent supramolecular assembly was constructed from coumarin-modified β-cyclodextrin and an adamantane-modified cyclic arginine–glycine–aspartate peptide for high-efficiency real-time monitoring of biothiols in cancer cells.

A new 1,3,2-diazaphosphinane, serving as a formal hydride, hydrogen-atom or proton donor without transition-metal mediation was exploited thermodynamically and kinetically. And, its promising potentials in versatile syntheses have been demonstrated.

The dependence of PhCH(CN)₂ pK_a on the molar fraction of ionic liquids in ionic–molecular binary mixtures showed a nonlinear three-fragment plot, which was rationalized for the first time by the respective roles of each solvent component for solvation.

Dynamic peptide hydrogels undergoing directional domain sliding movement upon release of covalent constraint accelerate cell proliferation through a mechanotransduction pathway.

Formyl-selective deuteration of aldehydes with D₂O mediated by the synergistic combination of light-driven, polyoxometalate-facilitated HAT and thiol catalysis is reported.

The introduction of hydroxyl groups and n-butyl groups into COF-4-OH for the construction of COFs with strong dual emission was demonstrated.

Nickel-catalyzed highly regioselective hydroalkylation and hydroalkenylation of dienes were achieved with different hydrazones.

Nonenzymatic nucleic acid amplification techniques (e.g. the hybridization chain reaction, HCR) have shown promising potential for amplified detection of biomarkers.

The interfacial charge transfer and real catalytic sites on metal–semiconductor hybrid catalysts for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting are studied.

Photoirradiation of the PC4AP linker generates an active intermediate that reacts intramolecularly with a primary amine on the carrier peptide/protein, leading to rapid release of the drug without generating any toxic side products.

Solid–liquid separation of similarly sized organic molecules utilizing sorbents offers the potential for new energy-efficient approaches to a number of important industrial separations such as xylenes (C8) separations.

A locus-patterned sequence oriented enrichment was proposed to analyze the gene sequence, locus variation and molecular abundance of heterogeneous genes.

Transmetalation-initiated three-component vicinal-diarylation of alkenes.

Nanoparticles that respond to specific endogenous or exogenous stimuli in tumor tissues are actively being developed to address multidrug resistance owing to multiple advantages, including a prolonged circulation time, enhanced permeability and retention effect, and superior cellular uptake.

We report an ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (2.62 s) based on cucurbit[6]uril host and phenyl-methyl-pyridinium guest for data encryption. Encapsulation of CB[6] boosts intersystem crossing and suppresses nonradiative relaxation of guest.

A 3D nanocage architecture with two types of connectivity was successfully assembled from discrete supramolecular nanocages.

In this work, the distinct catalytic properties of a single gold nanoparticle (GNP) after symmetry breaking were disclosed at the single-particle level for the first time.

Triply fused cluster: edge shared of three [Rh@Sn₁₀] subunits lead to the largest endohedral polystannide with an entirely new triply fused topology.

A biscinchona alkaloid-catalyzed AAA reaction for the construction of P-stereogenic center compounds was developed.

A compatible anode/succinonitrile-based electrolyte interface is achieved owing to the in situ formed NaF-rich interphase through an extremely simple approach.

Mercury-mediated chelate ring formation and subsequent aggregation gives strong fluorescence for rapid and selective sensing of Hg²⁺ and organomercury.

A photoresponsive supramolecular assembly was constructed and presented multi-color fluorescence emissions in several environments including solution, PVA and living cells.

A metal-free intramolecular tandem sequence involving alkoxylation, Claisen rearrangement and lactone expansion has been achieved.

An ultra-sensitive biosensor using only two DNA oligos to initiate multiple signal amplification cycles.

Dual-biomarker-triggered fluorescent probes were developed for simultaneous detection of the two biomarkers H₂S and hNQO1 in cancer cells.

Potassium-ion hybrid capacitor is enabled by fast diffusion, facile reaction kinetics and small volume change of dipotassium terephthalate and its comparability to the non-faradaic capacitive kinetics of activated carbon, and hence shows high power and energy density.

MOF gels with intrinsic emission color are prepared with 5-boronoisophthalic acid and Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, and/or Dy³⁺. Single-metal gels exhibit trichromatic fluorescence, so full color emissions are readily obtained by tuning the type and/or ratio of Ln³⁺ ions to prepare mixed-metal gels. Nano-ribbons form from the precursors and then entangle together to generate the gels.

Very few materials expand two-dimensionally under pressure, and this extremely rare phenomenon, namely negative area compressibility (NAC), is highly desirable for technological applications in pressure sensors and actuators.

Interestingly, on the lipid membrane, E.coli displays anomalous rocking diffusion, which might facilitate the subsequent survey of stronger association sites on the two-dimensional (2D) surface.

Magnesium doping in a high-capacity Ni-rich cathode suppresses cation mixing and transition-metal migration, leading to remarkable structural stability and cycling performance.

Herein, we report a protocol for direct visible-light-mediated Minisci C–H alkylation of heteroarenes with unactivated alkyl halides using molecular oxygen as an oxidant at room temperature.

We report an efficient and economical method for remote δ C(sp³)–H heteroarylation of free aliphatic alcohols using a hypervalent iodine PFBI-OH oxidant under photoredox catalysis.

Polyketide–polyketide hybrids are unique natural products with promising bioactivity, but the hybridization processes remain poorly understood.

Nature selects Mn-clusters as catalysts for water oxidation, which is a significant reaction in photosynthesis.

EDTA etching, the first strategy that simply generates deep traps while reducing the size and improving the aqueous-dispersibility, is presented.

A general approach to the functionalization of aliphatic C–Si bonds in the presence of silver salts and oxidants has been reported.

A simple multi-modality therapy with multi-drug co-loading and burst drug release for a high curative effect and anti-recurrence/metastasis was reported.

The first nickel(0)-catalyzed linear-selective hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes and styrenes with organoboronic acids are achieved under redox-neutral conditions.

The cellular uptake efficiency of nanostructures has been demonstrated to be highly dependent on the surface charge, size and shape although the cellular internalization process is still far from being well-understood.

A novel rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroamination and hydroindolation of keto-vinylidenecyclopropanes has been developed, affording the hydroamination and hydroindolation products in good to excellent yields with outstanding ee values through a new TMM–Rh model complex.

The first ruthenium-catalyzed umpolung carboxylation of hydrazones with CO₂ to generate important aryl acetic acids is reported.