This review presents a mechanistic insight into DArP and describes the development of DArP catalytic systems for varied thiophene-based C−H monomers. The control of the primary defects (i.e., branching and homo-coupling) in thiophene-based DArP is also discussed.

Comprehensive Summary

Direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) has emerged as an eco-friendly and atom-efficient methodology for the syntheses of π-conjugated polymers (CPs). This approach features the direct C—H arylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon with an aryl halide. Given the prevalence of thiophene-containing CPs, achieving efficient and defect-free DArP of thiophene-based C−H monomers is of great significance. This review presents a mechanistic insight into DArP and describes the development of DArP catalytic systems for varied thiophene-based C−H monomers. Moreover, the control of the primary defects (i.e., branching and homo-coupling) in thiophene-based DArP is also elaborated. By emphasizing the principles behind monomer selection and catalytic system optimization, this review intends to provide a framework for future advancements in the DArP of thiophene-containing CPs.

In this review, we focus on the latest progress in the field of electrically driven crosslinked liquid crystal polymers (CLCPs). The newly developed electrically driven CLCP systems based on different response mechanisms are discussed, and applications are specifically presented. In addition, the current challenges in the field of electrically driven CLCPs are summarized, and a brief outlook on future development is proposed.

Comprehensive Summary

Crosslinked liquid crystal polymers (CLCPs) are smart materials that combine the anisotropy of liquid crystals (LCs) with the elasticity of rubber. When subjected to external stimuli, they exhibit exceptional two-way shape memory behavior. Among the various stimuli, electrical energy has the advantages of cleanliness, stability, and high controllability; hence, it is widely used for controlling CLCP-based soft actuators, thus presenting potential for application in diverse, complex scenarios. By combining electrically driven mode and sensor equipment, precise control of CLCPs can be achieved, and the electrically driven CLCPs can accomplish more intricate and sophisticated tasks. This study presents a comprehensive review of electrically driven CLCPs with various driving mechanisms, including the electroclinic effect of ferroelectric CLCPs, the reorganization of LC molecules, the Maxwell effect of dielectric CLCPs, and the Joule heating effect of electrothermally responsive CLCP systems. In addition, a detailed analysis of the applications of electrically driven CLCPs in various research fields is presented. Finally, the current challenges in the field of electrically driven CLCP technology are summarized, along with predictions for future prospects.

The first practical synthesis and isolation of trifluoromethylthiophosphonium salts were achieved from an unprecedented reaction of allyl trifluoromethyl sulfoxide and phosphines in the presence of TMSOTf through Mislow-Evans-type rearrangement. The resulting trifluoromethylthio triphenylphosphonium salt exhibited versatile reactivities with a variety of nucleophiles, electrophiles, carboxylic acids, and unactivated alkenes.

Comprehensive Summary

This article described an unprecedented synthesis of trifluoromethylthiophosphonium salts from allyl trifluoromethyl sulfoxide and phosphines in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) through Mislow-Evans-type rearrangement. The resulting trifluoromethylthiophosphonium salts were firstly isolated and fully characterized. These fluoroalkylphosphonium salts, as exemplified by trifluoromethylthio triphenylphosphonium salt (6a), exhibited unique and versatile reaction with nucleophiles and deoxygenative trifluoromethylthiolation reaction of carboxylic acids. Furthermore, the photoredox catalytic tunable radical hydrotrifluoromethylation and hydrotrifluoromethythiolation of unactivated alkenes with 6a was successfully developed.

Comprehensive Summary

Chemical topology refers to the three-dimensional arrangement (i.e., connectivity and spatial relationship) of a molecule's constituent atoms and bonds. The molecular mechanism for translation defines the linear configuration of all nascent proteins. Nontrivial protein topology arises only upon post-translational processing events and often imparts functional benefits such as enhanced stability, making topology a unique dimension for protein engineering. Utilizing the assembly-reaction synergy, our group has developed several methods for the effective and convenient cellular synthesis of a variety of topological proteins, such as lasso proteins, protein rotaxanes, and protein catenanes. The work opens the access to new protein classes and paves the road toward illustrating the topological effects on structure-function relationship of proteins, which lays solid foundation for exploring topological proteins’ practical application.

What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?

Cellular synthesis of artificial topological proteins using genetically programmed post-translational cascade events.

How do you get into this specific field?

I was trained as a polymer chemist and always dream of accomplishing full control over macromolecules’ length, sequence, stereochemistry, and topology. I got to learn about how nature uses polymer chemistry during my postdoc study at Caltech and was amazed by the delicate cellular machinery for making biopolymers. However, the rigorous template polymerization mechanism also defines the linear configuration of DNA, RNA, and protein. Inspired by my experience in supramolecular chemistry and genetically encoded click chemistry, I proposed the use of “assembly-reaction” synergy to make nonlinear proteins. By pre-programming information regarding assembly and reaction into the precursor protein's gene, the nascent linear protein knows what to do and undergoes a series of cascade events to transform into various chemical topologies. I enjoy this interdisciplinary approach in tackling a long-standing challenge.

How do you supervise your students?

Recognize that students are different. Start from a small project and finish it. Be rigorous on science, but flexible on routines. Give them sufficient freedom to explore, yet not too much to get lost. Open to debate and cultivate critical thinking. Always ready to help. Try to be a role model by acts, not words.

What is the most important personality for scientific research?

Curiosity, courage, persistence, and optimism.

What are your hobbies?

Reading and hiking.

If you have anything else to tell our readers, please feel free to do so.

There is no real boundary between scientific disciplines. They are often set by our training and mindsets. It often requires tremendous efforts to break such boundaries in order to advance science.

We investigated the stability of MoS₂ devices in ambient condition and attributed the device performance degradation to the surface oxidation of the contact metals with low work function.

Comprehensive Summary

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) showed great potentials in 2D nanoelectronic devices due to their abundant and unique properties. The performance stability of the 2D TMDCs devices turns into one of the keys for their practical applications but has been rarely explored. Here, we investigated stability of MoS₂ devices in ambient condition and contributed the device performance degradation to the surface oxidation of the contact metals with low work function, which increased the contact barrier and hindered the electron injection. We developed a new approach to recover the performance of the aged devices through the selective doping of contacts with organolithium, which prolonged the lifetime of MoS₂ devices. Our work not only provides important insights into the stability of 2D TMDCs devices, but also opens up a new avenue for optimizing the performance of 2D MoS₂ devices.

Comprehensive Summary

The colonization of marine microorganisms, animals and plants on underwater surface forms marine biofouling. It has profound effects on marine industries. To solve the problem, we proposed a strategy of Dynamic Surface Antifouling (DSAF), i.e., continuously changing surfaces can effectively inhibit biofouling organisms landing and adhering, and developed degradable polymer based marine antifouling material. The degradation of polymer chain enables the surface dynamic or self-renewing even on static conditions. The final degradation products of these polymers are low molecular weight molecules, and do not produce marine microplastics. Meanwhile, the degradable polymers act as carriers and controlled release systems for antifoulants, further improving the antifouling efficiency. This article reviews the development of dynamic surface antifouling materials.

What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?

Synthesis of marine anti-biofouling polymers.

How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?

I happened to read a paper about marine biofouling on the internet three months later after I joined University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Its adverse effects on marine industry and marine activities shocked me very much! No doubt, it makes great significance for our country and society to solve the problem. It is a challenge, but I like challenge, and I decided to get into this field. Realizing that the key is to develop new polymer resin, I was confident that I was able to solve the problem with my polymer chemistry and physics background. Actually, it is not easy. I have spent about 20 years in this project since then.

What is the most important personality for scientific research?

Curiosity, interest, concentration and persistence. How do you keep balance between research and family?

I make a plan and organization for everything so I can keep a balance between family and work.

Who influences you mostly in your life?

Prof. Ming Jiang and Prof. Chi Wu, who are my PhD and post-doctor supervisors, respectively. They taught me how to do research and how to choose a significant subject.

What is your favorite journal(s)?

Macromolecules, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Physical Review Letters.

Could you please give us some advices on improving Chinese Journal of Chemistry?

The journal may publish more papers about applications of chemistry and history of chemistry.

Quasi solid-state composite electrolyte (QSCE-PH/GPFIL3/P) with multifunctional 2D molecular brush fillers is developed to achieve high-performance lithium metal batteries. Our QSCE-PH/GPFIL3/P integrates features of PFIL side-chain-enhanced Li⁺ conduction, GO-strengthened mechanical property, and LiF-containing SEI layer-facilitated uniform lithium deposition.

Comprehensive Summary

The ever-growing demand for next-generation high-energy-density devices drives the development of lithium metal batteries with enough safety and high performance, in which quasi-solid-state composite electrolytes (QSCEs) with high ionic conductivity and lithium ion transference number () are highly desirable. Herein, we successfully synthesize a kind of two-dimensional (2D) molecular brush (GO-g-PFIL) via grafting poly(ionic liquid) side-chain (poly(3-(3,3,4,4,4-pentafluorobutyl)-1-vinyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide), denoted as PFIL) on the surface of 2D graphene oxide (GO) sheet. GO-g-PFIL is used as multifunctional filler to prepare novel composite membranes and corresponding QSCEs (e.g., QSCE-PH/GPFIL3/P). The as-obtained QSCE-PH/GPFIL3/P integrates features of PFIL side-chain-enhanced lithium ion conduction, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) backbone-induced flexibility, and GO-strengthened mechanical property. As a result, our ultrathin (21 μm) self-supporting QSCE-PH/GPFIL3/P exhibits high ionic conductivity (3.24 × 10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹) and excellent (0.82) at room temperature, and Li/LFP full cell with QSCE-PH/GPFIL3/P shows superior rate performance (high specific capacities of 79 mAh·g⁻¹ at 30 °C and 5 C) and excellent cycling performance (high capacity retention of 91% after 500 cycles at 80 °C and 1 C).

New nickel(II) dibromide complexes with bis(azolyl)methane ligands with Et₂AlCl or Et₃Al₂Cl₃ resulted in the formation of catalytic systems active both in ethylene oligomerization and Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene. Catalytic systems activated with Et₃Al₂Cl₃ also produced small amounts of odd carbon number olefins (up to 0.8%). The Friedel-Crafts alkylation was used as a trap for previously undetected short-chain odd carbon number olefins (C₃ and C₅).

Comprehensive Summary

Nickel(II) complexes with pyrazole-based ligands are widely employed in catalysis of ethylene oligomerization and subsequent Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene. We have prepared ten new nickel(II) dibromide complexes with various substituted bis(azolyl)methanes. They have been characterized using ¹H NMR, IR, high resolution mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The structures of three complexes have been unambiguously established using X-ray diffraction. It was found that these complexes in the presence of Et₂AlCl or Et₃Al₂Cl₃ are active both in ethylene oligomerization and Friedel-Crafts alkylation processes (activity up to 3720 kg_oligomer·mol[Ni]⁻¹·h⁻¹). The use of Et₃Al₂Cl₃ results in a higher share of alkylated products (up to 60%). Moreover, catalytic systems activated with Et₃Al₂Cl₃ produced small amounts of odd carbon number olefins (up to 0.8%). The Friedel-Crafts alkylation was used as a trap for previously undetected short-chain odd carbon number olefins (C₃ and C₅).

Three novel isotope-economic synthetic paths to ¹³C₂-labeled heterocycles are proposed. Using calcium carbide-¹³C₂ a number of 4,5-¹³C₂-triazoles, 4,5-¹³C₂-isoxazoles and 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridazine-4,5-¹³C₂ were synthesized. New data on ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of ¹³C₂-labeled triazoles, isoxazoles and symmetrical pyridazine are described in details.

Comprehensive Summary

¹³C-Carbon is the most available source of carbon-13. It is a relatively inexpensive solid material, which can be easily converted to calcium carbide-¹³C₂. In current work, Ca¹³C₂ was used for in situ generation of ¹³C₂-acetylene in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and [4+2] cycloaddition reaction. For the first time, 1H-1,2,3-triazoles-4,5-¹³C₂ and isoxazoles-4,5-¹³C₂ were synthesized using calcium carbide-¹³C₂. A Diels-Alder type cycloaddition of 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine and Ca¹³C₂ was investigated, and the best way for the synthesis of 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridazine-4,5-¹³C₂ was proposed for the first time. Here we perform a detailled description of NMR spectra of ¹³C₂-labeled triazoles, isoxazoles and 3,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridazine.