In this paper, we design a new interrupted AST‐type zeolitic imidazolate framework with cub and interrupted ast cages, which exhibits permanent porosity, high hydrophobicity and strong solid‐state photoluminescent properties. More details are discussed in the article by Wang & Zhang et al. on page 449–452.
The back cover picture shows an electrochemical strategy for the borylation of aryl iodides via a radical pathway using current as a driving force. This method features mild reaction conditions, good functional groups tolerance, and prompt reaction time. EPR, CV and DPV experiments verified the formation of aryl radicals in this electrochemical borylation reaction, and the current plays an important role in the generation of radical intermediate. More details are discussed in the article by Mo et al. on page 347–351.
The cover picture shows the copper‐catalyzed Ullmann‐Ma reaction of aryl halides with nucleophiles by the assistance of two‐generation ligands, amino acids and oxalic diamides or related amides. Ullmann‐Ma reaction is one of the most important transformations for the construction of aryl carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bonds in organic chemistry. For the details about the history, development, scope and applications of Ullmann‐Ma reaction, please see the article by Cai et al. on page 879–893.
The cover picture shows a facile synthetic methodology towards S-fused multi-membered polycyclic heterocycles containing five-membered thiophene, six-membered thiopyran, and seven-membered thiepine. A construction strategy for thermally stable thiepine derivatives is thus established. More details are discussed in the article by Zhou et al. on page 13—20.
The back cover picture shows the first LA‐catalyzed [3+2]IMCC of GDA‐epoxides with carbon‐carbon double bonds. This provides an efficient and general strategy for construction of bridged oxa‐[n.2.1] skeletons. A novel SN‐like mechanism through a carbon‐carbon bond cleavage of epoxide ring has been proposed. The colorful fireworks in the picture imply the generation of skeletal diversity from the epoxide‐diene, and express a dedication to the 100th Anniversary of Nankai University as well. More details are discussed in the article by Wang et al. on page 695–699.
The bifunctional roles of CH3COO– (complexation effect and decreasing temperature of PVP complete decomposition) are utilized to synthesize electrospun LaCoO3 perovskites at a low‐temperature 400 °C. The obtained material can be applied in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds, like stable propane. More details are discussed in the article by Luo and Qian et al. on page 144 ‐ 150.
The development of azobenzene‐containing polymers (azopolymers) opens up an avenue for controlling their properties and functions with light. These polymers show shape changes and mechanical responses under the stimulation of light via photoisomerization of azobenzene groups. Herein, this report focuses on the growing research on moving polymers via photoisomerization, including their moving mechanisms and various applications. More details are discussed in the article by Wu et al. on page 1019—1022.
Modulating charge transfer by constructing high-quality interfacial contacts and charge transfer channel is crucial for an efficient photocatalyst. In this work, a novel PCN/Cu3P nanosheet with intimate 2D/2D heterojunction was prepared via in-situ phosphorization. Boosted photocatalytic H2 evolution was achieved due to the smooth charge transfer in the 2D/2D heterojunction. More details are discussed in the article by Liu et al. on page 173—180.
A copper‐catalyzed aerobic oxidative ring expansion reaction of isatins with 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline for the synthesis of tetracyclic quinazolinones has been developed. The capacity of the resultant 5H‐isoquinolino[1,2‐b]quinazolin‐8(6H)‐one for a range of palladium‐catalyzed directing C—H activation has been further demonstrated, thus giving a broader access to diverse tetracyclic quinazolinones. More details are discussed in the article by Xiao and Deng et al. on page 87—92.
The cover picture shows a synergistically directed assembly route towards novel multi‐component coordination architectures driven by aromatic donor‐acceptor and coordination interactions. The huge structural discrepancies between coronene donor present and absent experiments clearly prove the significance of aromatic donor‐accepter pairs and their inherent cooperation mechanism in these assembly processes. More details are discussed by Bu et al. on page 871–877.
The cover picture shows a simple, inexpensive and robust method on defluorosilylation of diverse fluoroalkenes with silylboronates in the presence of alkoxy base to directly synthesize various silylated fluoroalkenes. Density functional theory calculations revealed that transient silyl anion complex undergoes SN2’ or SNV substitution, which is responsible for this base‐mediated defluorosilylation reaction, thus obviating the need for copper salts. More details are discussed in the article by Shi et al. on page 1009–1014.
The cover picture shows A new strategy for preparing antimicrobial peptides from the natural occurring peptide gramicidin A has been developed by simply removing its N‐terminal formyl group and decoration at the terminal NH2 group. The peptides are able to selectively insert into Gram‐positive bacterial membrane to form transmembrane channels but not that of erythrocyte membrane, which leads to their high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic toxicity. More details are discussed in the article by Hou et al. on page 25–29.
The back cover picture shows that a highly enantioselective gold‐catalyzed intermolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones with nitrones was realized by the application of Ming‐Phos as chiral ligands, which provides both enantiomers of the cycloadducts with opposite configuration in high yields with high region‐ and enantioselectivity by the employment of either diastereomer of the chiral ligands. The design of the cover picture is inspired by the mixer tap. Just as the tap regulates hot and cold water, the enantioselective synthesis of a pair of products ( 3 and ent‐3 ) is realized by the rotation of ligand S‐ or R‐configuration. More details are discussed in the article by Zhang et al. on page 577—582.
The cover picture shows a highly enantioselective organocatalytic protonation of monofluorinated silyl enol ethers to α‐secondary α‐fluoroketones using water as proton source. Notably, in the presence of D2O and MeOD, the facile access of chiral α‐deuterated α‐fluoroketones in excellent enantioselectivity is achieved. More details are discussed by Zhou et al. on page 799–806.
Carbonate electrolytes are not stable in Li-O2 batteries due to the attack of O2−. However, in Li-O2/CO2 batteries the generated O2− can be captured by CO2 to stabilize carbonate electrolytes. Thanks to the high-voltage resistance and good Li reversibility, they are excellent electrolytes for long-life Li-O2/CO2 batteries. More details are discussed in the article by Zhang et al. on page 314–321.
This review summarizes key development of N‐heterocyclic carbene organic catalysis, with a particular focus on the basic activation and reaction modes enabled by NHCs. More details are discussed in the article by Chi et al. on page 1167—1202.
Glycerol molecules can be selectively converted into 1,2‐propanediol in water by the way of Ni‐based Great‐Wall Catalysts with Beacon‐like macropores and Passage‐like mesoporous channels. Otherwise, an amount of by‐product lactic acid was produced via rearrangement from glycerol. More details are discussed in the article by Zhang & Ma et al. on page 439–444.
The development of chiral boron Lewis acids is highly essential for the chemistry of frustrated Lewis pairs. Three protocols including hydroboration, substitution and in situ hydroboration, have been successfully established to access the chiral boron Lewis acids. A rapid growth for the metal‐free asymmetric hydrogenation and hydrosilylation has therefore been achieved in the past decade. More details are discussed in the article by Du et al. on page 625—634.
This cover picture describes that MOF-based artificial and semi-artificial photosynthesis systems have been sustainably catalyzing the CO2 reduction, H2 evolution, and other chemical processes upon sun-light irradiation. In such a way, our Earth was successfully protected from pollution and energy crisis due to the depletion of fossil fuels and excessive CO2 emission. More details are discussed in the article by Li et al. on page 335–354.
