The cover picture shows the synthesis of hyaluronic acid gadolinium complex (HA-Gd-DTPA) nanosphere from natural hyaluronic acid molecule through complexation and assembly. The nanosphere, as a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, is specially used to the examination and diagnosis of the lymphatic system disease because the hyaluronic acid is a highly promising lymphatic targeting carrier. More details are discussed in the article by Zhu et al. on page 1153–1158.

Chiral bifunctional thiourea-phosphine derived from D-mannose was developed as highly efficient organocatalyst for the enantioselective intramolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of ω-formyl-enones.

A tandem isomerization/hydroarylation reaction of oxabenzonorbornadienes and arylacetylenes was realized by using AgOTf as catalyst. 1,1-Diarylethylenes could be easily generated as products in moderate to good yields in this tandem reaction.

A series of novel (bis)1,2,4-triazole Mannich bases containing furan/thiophene and piperazine moieties were synthesized and characterized by melting point, organic spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The fungicidal activity, herbicidal activity, KARI inhibitory activity and insecticidal activity of new compounds were investigated.

Due to the strong affinity of ZrO₂ with the phosphoric group, a sensitive electrochemical method for the detection of organophosphate (OP) compounds was developed based on zirconia (ZrO₂) nanoparticles modified electrode.

Two new fluorescent organogelators based on cholesterol containing benzothiadiazole group have been designed and synthesized, both of which show multiple-stimuli responsive properties to solvent, temperature, ultrasound and Hg²⁺. And the self-assembly process and mechanism were studied via FT-IR, UV-vis absorption and PL spectra, and XRD.

The first synthesis of the four stereoisomers of III from readily available starting materials, methyl (R/S)-3-hydroxybutanoate, in 9 steps with overall yields of 13% –17% was reported. This study will provide an access to developing new drugs.

A novel MRI contrast agent, hyaluronic acid gadolinium complex (HA-Gd-DTPA) nanospheres, was prepared by the synthesis of hyaluronic acid gadolinium complexes and their assembly, which showed obviously higher relaxation effectiveness and MRI contrast between blood vessel and lymph vessel in rabbit than that of Magnevist.

A series of organosoluble, optical transparent and low dielectric constant fluorinated polyimides were designed and synthesized from a novel diamine PAFM and various aromatic dianhydrides.

Though elemental bromine is by no means considered to be a green reagent, the curious bromine effect would inspire more inquires into, say, the application of Br₂ as a novel catalyst in organic chemistry. Herein, an example is presented, and under the catalysis of only 3 mol% of Br₂ at room temperature, indoles reacted rapidly with isatins to form biologically important 3,3-bis(indole-3-yl)indoline-2-(1H)-ones with high efficiency and wide substrate scope.

Crystallographically characterized thiophene derived turn-on fluorescence probe (DFPTMA) selectively binds SCN⁻ with a binding constant (K_a) of 1.32×10⁴ L/mol and detection limit of 0.88 µmol/L, well below the acceptable level for SCN⁻ in human blood and milk.

The base mediated domino cycloaddition reactions of 4-dimethylaminopyridinium bromides with two molecular 3-phenacylideneoxindoles afforded functionalized dispirocyclopentyl-3,3′-bisoxindoles in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity.

Terphenyl derivatives were synthesized by Na₂PdCl₄ catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of dibromobenzenes and arylboronic acids by using 2N2O-salen as a ligand in H₂O/EtOH.

In the presence of TCT organocatalyst, the direct syntheses of alkyl acrylates and chromenones have been realized via three-component reactions of aryl aldehydes, alcohols and cyano acetamide.

The mechanism underlying the switch on/off of the operation of the molecular piston was revealed. The cis-trans isomerization of the alkene bond integrated within the derivatives of the cyclodextrin controls the work generated by the piston.

Treatment of 1,2-C₆H₄(SiH₃)(SiH₃) (1) with Pt(dmpe)(PEt₃)₂ (dmpe=Me₂PCH₂CH₂PMe₂) in the ratio of 1:1 leads to the complex {1,2-C₆H₄(SiH₂)(SiH₂)}Pt^II(dmpe) (2), which can react with proton organic reagent bearing hydroxy group with low steric hindrance to form a tetra-alkoxy substituted silyl platinum(II) compound (3).