Inspired by the skin of Osteichthyes fishes, a Janus hydrogel coating consisting of slippery and sticky layers is successfully prepared by a two-step UV light irradiation at room temperature. The slippery layer replicates the structure of cycloid scales, while the nature of hydrogel mimics the mucus on fish skin. The Janus hydrogel coating possesses prominent mechanical, anti-fouling and drag reduction properties. More details are discussed in the article by Xue et al. on page 867—872.

Inspired by the skin of Osteichthyes fishes, a Janus hydrogel coating consisting of slippery and sticky layers is successfully prepared by a two-step UV light irradiation at room temperature. The slippery layer replicates the structure of cycloid scales, while the nature of hydrogel mimics the mucus on fish skin. The Janus hydrogel coating possesses prominent mechanical, anti-fouling and drag reduction properties. More details are discussed in the article by Xue et al. on page 867—872.

As classic molecular magnets with magnetic bistability, spin-crossover (SCO) compounds have potentially important application value in molecular electronics, sensing, and information storage. Multistable control of SCO compounds is more difficult than bistability control. In this paper, we propose a strategy to control the number of spin-transition steps to further understand the control of the multistability of SCO compounds. More details are discussed in the article by Li et al. on page 879—886.

As classic molecular magnets with magnetic bistability, spin-crossover (SCO) compounds have potentially important application value in molecular electronics, sensing, and information storage. Multistable control of SCO compounds is more difficult than bistability control. In this paper, we propose a strategy to control the number of spin-transition steps to further understand the control of the multistability of SCO compounds. More details are discussed in the article by Li et al. on page 879—886.

Azepine ring is a prominent structural scaffold in biologically significant molecules. This study demonstrates a Ni(II)-catalyzed alkyne functionalization/cyclization cascade reaction of alkyne-tethered malononitriles, involving intermolecular regioselective arylation of the alkynes and desymmetrizing addition onto the nitrile group, to access azepine derivatives. This strategy introduces an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter and an unprotected imine functionality simultaneously to the azepine scaffold, showing great promise for subsequent transformations. More details are discussed in the article by Liu et al. on page 873—878.

Azepine ring is a prominent structural scaffold in biologically significant molecules. This study demonstrates a Ni(II)-catalyzed alkyne functionalization/cyclization cascade reaction of alkyne-tethered malononitriles, involving intermolecular regioselective arylation of the alkynes and desymmetrizing addition onto the nitrile group, to access azepine derivatives. This strategy introduces an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter and an unprotected imine functionality simultaneously to the azepine scaffold, showing great promise for subsequent transformations. More details are discussed in the article by Liu et al. on page 873—878.

2-Aminobenzothiazoles derivatives have revealed a broad spectrum of biological activities, such as anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-tumour, anti-infective, and anti-convulsant activities. A great amount of 2-aminobenzothiazole derivatives have been applied in drugs for the treatment of human diseases. A convenient approach for the construction of 2-aminobenzothiazoles via I₂-catalyzed tandem cyclization reaction of amines and carbon disulfide has been developed. More details are discussed in the article by Deng et al. on page 846—852.

2-Aminobenzothiazoles derivatives have revealed a broad spectrum of biological activities, such as anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-tumour, anti-infective, and anti-convulsant activities. A great amount of 2-aminobenzothiazole derivatives have been applied in drugs for the treatment of human diseases. A convenient approach for the construction of 2-aminobenzothiazoles via I₂-catalyzed tandem cyclization reaction of amines and carbon disulfide has been developed. More details are discussed in the article by Deng et al. on page 846—852.

Monitoring the dynamic behavior of a single molecule provides unique insights into the fundamental physical and chemical properties of individual molecules. In this review, we summarized the current state-of-the-art electrical and optical techniques for single-molecule measurements and discussed their applications in detecting dynamic events such as conformational isomerizations, intermolecular interactions, chemical reactions, and biomolecular activities. In addition, we discussed the challenges and opportunities in this area and proposed possible directions for future development. More details are discussed in the article by Guo et al. on page 2889—2907.

Monitoring the dynamic behavior of a single molecule provides unique insights into the fundamental physical and chemical properties of individual molecules. In this review, we summarized the current state-of-the-art electrical and optical techniques for single-molecule measurements and discussed their applications in detecting dynamic events such as conformational isomerizations, intermolecular interactions, chemical reactions, and biomolecular activities. In addition, we discussed the challenges and opportunities in this area and proposed possible directions for future development. More details are discussed in the article by Guo et al. on page 2889—2907.

This cover picture shows a Co corrole tethered with an imidazole axial group, which displayed remarkably boosted activity for the selective 4e⁻/4H⁺ oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) because of the electronic “push effect” of an axial imidazole ligand. It is shown from experimental results that the tethered axial imidazole ligand improves the O₂ binding ability of Co corroles thermodynamically and dynamically, which is crucial to boost electrocatalytic ORR performance. This work shows the effect of the axial imidazole of Co corroles on O₂ binding and activation and highlights the value of axial ligand tuning on boosted electrocatalytic ORR. More details are discussed in the article by Cao and Lei et al. on page 2866—2872.

This cover picture shows a Co corrole tethered with an imidazole axial group, which displayed remarkably boosted activity for the selective 4e⁻/4H⁺ oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) because of the electronic “push effect” of an axial imidazole ligand. It is shown from experimental results that the tethered axial imidazole ligand improves the O₂ binding ability of Co corroles thermodynamically and dynamically, which is crucial to boost electrocatalytic ORR performance. This work shows the effect of the axial imidazole of Co corroles on O₂ binding and activation and highlights the value of axial ligand tuning on boosted electrocatalytic ORR. More details are discussed in the article by Cao and Lei et al. on page 2866—2872.

Direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) is an eco-friendly and atom-efficient approach for the synthesis of π-conjugated polymers (CPs). The attainment of efficient and defect-free DArP of thiophene-based C−H monomers is of great importance for the development of high-performance CPs. In this review, we present a mechanistic insight into DArP and describes the development of DArP catalytic systems for varied thiophene-based C−H monomers. More details are discussed in the article by Deng et al. on page 2908—2924.

Direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) is an eco-friendly and atom-efficient approach for the synthesis of π-conjugated polymers (CPs). The attainment of efficient and defect-free DArP of thiophene-based C−H monomers is of great importance for the development of high-performance CPs. In this review, we present a mechanistic insight into DArP and describes the development of DArP catalytic systems for varied thiophene-based C−H monomers. More details are discussed in the article by Deng et al. on page 2908—2924.