Themed collection Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Korean Chemical Society (KCS)

The 52^nd President of the Korean Chemical Society (2020–2021).

The grand challenge of materials science, discovery of novel materials with target properties, can be greatly accelerated by machine-learned inverse design strategies.

This critical review discusses the thermal and photocatalytic mechanisms of one-, two-, four-, six- and eight-electron reduction of CO₂ with metal complex catalysts.

Here, we review recent advances and provide perspectives in photoluminescence modulation and enhancement with plasmonic nanostructures.

This article highlights recent advances on the base-promoted deborylative carbon–carbon and carbon–boron bond-forming reactions using gem-diborylalkanes as the sources of α-borylcabanions.

We have extracted and categorized the desirable properties of proteins that are adapted as the scaffolds for artificial metalloenzymes.

This feature article summarizes the recent progress in the study of chemodynamic therapy agents based on metal–organic complexes.

In this feature article, the two types (molecular amphiphile and supramolecular amphiphile) of CB-based amphiphiles, their self-assemblies and their applications for useful nanotherapeutics and theranostics are presented with future perspectives.

Extended understandings of perovskite solar cells by recent ALD application studies as well as challenges toward enhancing the efficiency and stability will be addressed.

The tunable bandgap energy has been recognized as a prominent feature of the colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal, also called the colloidal quantum dot (CQD).

The commonly inert chloromethanes, dichloromethane and trichloromethane, can exchange other solvents bonded at open coordination sites in metal–organic frameworks, providing a new route to activate the open coordination sites for subsequent use in applications.

A key strategy for achieving high-performance polymer actuators that can be operated with a small battery is the design of polymer electrolytes.

TRXL and TRXAS are powerful techniques for real-time probing of structural and electronic dynamics of photoinduced reactions in solution phase.

This article summarizes the current status and future perspectives of zeolite-based second order and third order nonlinear optical materials.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the electronic effects of nano-confinement (from 1D to 3D geometries) on optoelectronic materials and their applications.

Research developments of imidazolium receptors for anions (such as DNA, RNA, ATP, etc.) during 2010–2019 are comprehensively discussed.

Metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs) are comprehensively summarized and classified based on topology, providing new directions for MOP design and forthcoming applications.

Comprehensive insight into the thermochemical, photochemical and electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to methane and long-chain hydrocarbons as alternative fuels.

Hollow structured nanocatalysts show a great potential as next generation electrocatalysts for future renewable and sustainable energy conversion technologies.

This review focuses on small molecular ligand-targeted fluorescent imaging probes and fluorescent theranostics, including their design strategies and applications in clinical tumor treatment.

π-Conjugated oligothiophene is considered a chain segment of its polymeric counterpart with simper excited-state dynamics and spectral signatures.

This Tutorial Review will describe various fluorogenic reaction-based prodrug strategies used for targeted theranostic drug delivery.

This Tutorial Review summarizes the recent breakthroughs in S_N2-type nucleophilic fluorination reactions using alkali metal fluorides promoted by protic solvents, inducing excellent selectivity and high reaction rates.

This tutorial review discusses the concept and up-to-date applications of magnetic nanoparticle-based multi-modal imaging.

Facile preparation of an epitaxial metal–organic framework thin film and its breathing behavior responding to organic solvent molecules.

The surface oxidation of Pd nanoparticles with [Ph₂I]BF₄ resulted in the generation of Pd(II)–aryl–oxo clusters, which led to C–H arylation in high yields and regioselectivity.

The simple use of vitamin C leads to the reductive disassembly of the Fe³⁺-TA complex and in situ artificial shell degradation in single-cell nanoencapsulation.

A triazole-bearing strapped calix[4]pyrrole (1) was synthesized as a lithium salt selective ion pair receptor.

A combination of pillar[5]-bis-trithiacrown and HgI₂ afforded a contact ion-triplet complex in which the host encapsulates the (I⁻–Hg²⁺–I⁻) entity via Hg²⁺⋯π and C–H⋯I⁻ interactions, reflecting geometrical complementarity.

Size controlled PEDOT nanoparticles were synthesized by confined space electrochemistry inside emulsions.

Longitudinal shape evolution of Ag₂S nanoparticles is reported. Ag₂S nanospheres turn into rhombic dodecahedrons, and sequentially converted into nanodumbbells, nanorods, and nanocubes by oriented attachements along the 〈−104〉 and 〈−110〉 planes.

A mononuclear cobalt(III)–bis(tert-butylperoxo) adduct (Co^III–(OO^tBu)₂) bearing a tetraazamacrocyclic ligand was synthesized and characterized using various physicochemical methods, such as X-ray, UV-vis, ESI-MS, EPR, and NMR analyses.

A new type of colloidal surfactant that not only has a nanoscale platelet geometry, but can also induce complementary face-to-face interactions among Pickering emulsion droplets is introduced.

Significant structural contraction and expansion of flexible Pd₆L₈ cages by encapsulation of alkyl sulfate were demonstrated. The contact angles on the fine-ground microcrystal layers shift according to the chain length of the alkyl sulfate.

Dual pH and redox-sensitive polymeric NO delivery micelles act as a cytosol-selective NO bomb for efficient anticancer therapy.

o-Carborane-functionalized MOFs were successfully prepared through ligand exchanges, and the PL were drastically shifted by AIE in the solid state.

An isostructural series of flexible MOFs based on pendant arm macrocycles was developed to tune flexibility depending on functional groups.

Tunneling and thermoelectric characteristics of NHC-based large-area junctions were demonstrated for the first time.

Nanostructured P2-Na_2/3MnO₂ prepared by a novel synthetic method delivers a high initial capacity (170 mA h g⁻¹) with excellent rate capability.

Nano-sized and microporous solid acid catalysts were developed for fructose conversion to HMF.

Atypical unbalanced MOF-on-MOF growth is demonstrated for the production of a lopsided core–shell of MIL-88B@MIL-88A with mismatched cell parameters.

Incorporation of STED into ALEX-FRET increases the concentration limit of single-molecule detection by 100-fold to 5 nM.

A microporous hydrogen-bonded organic framework HOF-BTB efficiently separates C₂ hydrocarbons from C₂/CH₄ binary gas mixtures under dynamic mixture flow conditions.

To elucidate the factors affecting the catalytic properties of supported Au catalysts on the metal oxide support we investigated Au NPs deposited on crystallized mesoporous transition-metal oxides (m-oxides: Co₃O₄, NiO, and α-Fe₂O₃) prepared using the nanocasting method.

meso-Ethynyl extended aryl-picket calix[4]pyrroles 2 and 3 are designed and synthesized by directly anchoring arylethynyl groups at diametrically opposed meso-positions.

This work represents the first diarylborane-catalyzed hydrosilylation of epoxides and cyclic ethers.

Herein, we demonstrate a new catalytic cycloaddition of quinolinium zwitterions involving a gold-bound allylic cation intermediate.

A palladium-catalyzed C5-selective alkenylation of imidazoles has been developed and applied to the synthesis of alkenyl imidazoles and multi-substituted benzimidazoles.

The presented N-heterocyclic carbene iminoxyl borate radical zwitterion shows remarkable stability toward air, moisture, and silica gel.

A chiral aluminum solvating agent (CASA) was demonstrated to be a general and efficient reagent for ¹H NMR chiral analysis of alcohols.

A novel class of salen–Al/carbazole dyads was synthesized. The dyads exhibited enhanced luminescence efficiency through a significant IET process.

Transition metal-catalyzed silylations have typically involved the use of heterogeneous recyclable catalytic systems.

We report a flow microreactor platform for controlling tandem isomerizations of o-lithiated aryl benzyl ethers based on precise residence time control.

A strategy for achieving a high dispersion of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in a mono-modal fashion is developed.

A convenient and selective method for the sensing of polyamines, which are important biomarkers for cancers, has been developed. The fluorescence light-up mechanism utilizes the analyte-induced formation of emissive excimers of a sulfonated probe. Detection is achieved in aqueous media and artificial urine samples, as indicated by an excellent fluorescence turn-on signal with a large spectral shift.

Dual-purpose photocatalysis for H₂ evolution with the simultaneous degradation of organic pollutants was achieved.

The esters of 1,2-azido alcohols were transformed into α-amido ketones without external oxidants through the Ru-catalyzed formation of N–H imines with the liberation of N₂ followed by intramolecular migration of the acyl moiety.

An outer-sphere-reaction-philic and inner-sphere-reaction-philic Au-nanocatalyst label can mediate two different types of redox species.

We report the first complete characterization of the directional molecular packing patterns of individual foldamers within a new foldecture with a well defined hexagonal plate shape.

This communication provides information about the study and development of the properties of novel hole transporting materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells. This communication describes the synthesis of three HTMs incorporating 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) cores.

Au nanoparticle clusters were prepared by fine control over the galvanic replacement of Ag nanoparticles with Au precursors.

A (012) plane oriented hematite film with secondary growth of organized microcrystals showed promising photoelectrochemical efficiency compared with a randomly oriented film.

A hollow nanoreactor suitable for the cultivation of Ni-nanocrystals was developed through a distinct seed-engineering strategy, which involved the assembly of a catalytically active Au/Pd-heterojunction-nanocrystal inside the hollow silica nanoshell.

A novel nanoparticle of Ag–Bi shows excellent purification of contaminated water without other supplements.

Higher photocatalytic CO₂ conversion to CO with a turnover number of 435 was achieved by the ternary dye-sensitized systems comprising a dye/TiO₂/Re platform.

Catalyst-mediated yet catalyst-free catechol-containing adhesive hydrogels.

A color distinctive, ratiometric pH sensor was demonstrated using pH responsive and fluorescent (PyMMP-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer coated CdSe/ZnS QDs.

Stacked porous octahedral tin phosphate Sn₂P₂O₇ nanodisks, with a thickness and a width of 20 nm and 200 nm, respectively, were prepared from quenching hydrothermally prepared (SnHPO₄)₂·H₂O at 600 °C. The first discharge capacity was 600 mA h g⁻¹ while the capacity retention, even after 220 cycles, was 93%.

A new nonoxidic mesostructured material with highly ordered hexagonal symmetry has been obtained through supramolecular assembly of [Re₆Te₈(CN)₆]^4- clusters in the presence of a transition metal cation, Mn²⁺, with CTAB as a liquid crystal template under hydrothermal conditions.

The streptavidin–biotin interaction on a monolayer of a conically shaped dendrimer was investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and the interaction on the mesospaced surface was found to be as efficient as the one on the mixed monolayers at a lower concentration of immobilized biotin.