Mass transfer in electrolyte plays a crucial role in electrocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The doping of N and O atoms in carbon substrate effectively enhances the interactions between substrate and chloramphenicol (CAP), promoting the mass transfer process. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the doped N and O atoms form hydrogen bonds with CAP, enhancing the enrichment effect of CAP molecules in the vicinity around catalyst. More details are discussed in the article by Lu et al. on pages 2445—2452.

The picture in the background is the old chemistry building of Soochow University, the symbols of S are: 1. for the research field of Prof. Wang Shunyi's group at Soochow University: Organic Sulfur Chemistry; 2. for Soochow University; 3. for Suzhou; 4. for Singapore. We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the founding of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in Soochow University, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Suzhou-Singapore Industrial Park. The cover image portrays the reductive coupling reaction of xanthate esters with sulfur-containing and selenium-containing compounds (thio(seleno)sulfonates and disulfides(selenides)) under the nickel-catalyzed condition. It provides a mild and effective method for the synthesis of unsymmetric sulfides and selenides. More details are discussed in the article by Wang et al. on pages 2453—2458.

A mild and efficient protocol for oxidative depolymerization of PET to terephthalic acid using only an O₂ balloon is reported. Terephthalic acid can be recycled from PET-containing materials including a series of plastic products in daily life.

A new family of 3d-4f clusters {Ni₂₄RE₂₂} (RE = Pr, Nd, and Gd) with excellent stability were isolated by utilizing the SO₄^2– anion from the in-situ decomposition of sodium dodecyl sulfonate as a template agent, which provides an effective method for the synthesis of novel high-nuclearity nanoclusters.

N, O co-doping strategy effectively strengthens the adsorption of chloramphenicol (CAP) on the surface of substrate, accelerating the mass transfer in solution and promoting the conversion of CAP. Pd NPs/NO-C composites could remove over 99% CAP contaminants within 1 h and exhibit a wide pH tolerance range, excellent ion interference resistance and cyclic stability.

We investigated the reductive cross-coupling reaction of sulfur-containing and selenium-containing compounds (thio(seleno)sulfonates and disulfides(selenides)) with xanthate esters under nickel-catalysed conditions. This reaction extends the xanthate esters, which generally generate alkyl radicals by C—O bond breaking under photo-catalysis, to the nickel-catalysed reductive cross-coupling reaction, providing a mild and effective method for the synthesis of a series of unsymmetric sulfides and selenides.

An efficiently catalytic method toward the synthesis of indolin-2-one featuring an allylic derived C3-quaternary stereocenter via an intramolecular Heck cyclization/Suzuki coupling of N-substituted-N-(2-bromophenyl)acrylamides and organoboron reagents was successfully developed by using a 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)acenaphthoimidazol-2-ylidene (AnIPr)-ligated oxazoline palladacycle. It enabled a very broad substrate scope tolerating different functional groups, electronic properties and steric bulkiness. Notably, it revealed great potential to build diverse heterocycle-fused indoline alkaloids via the same intermediate 3-allyl-1,3-dimethylindolin-2-one.

A highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction of ortho-iodophenol-derived allyl ether, which provides an efficient method to synthesize various chiral 3,3-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran compounds bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter has been developed.

A self-assembly strategy based on pillar[5]arene and azine derivative was used to construct supramolecular sensors, which effectively improved the sensitivity of CN^– detection in the aqueous phase and biological systems.

The visible-light catalytic direct reduction coupling reaction between α-CF₃-alkyl bromides and alkynyl bromide has been developed. By this chemistry, the valuable trifluoromethylated alkynes could be afforded with good functional group tolerance.

The chiral perturbation approach using a combination of chiral binaphthol and phenoselenazine derivative was employed to achieve circularly polarized room-temperature phosphorescence properties, demonstrating a luminescence dissymmetry factor, emission efficiency, and lifetime up to 9.32 × 10^–3, 27.0%, and 40.0 ms, respectively.

Crystalline boron-based analogues of Müller's hydrocarbon have been facilely isolated, structurally characterized, and theoretically studied.

Metal−organic frameworks exhibit a plethora of emergent phenomena including strong correlations, superconductivity, charge density wave, long-range magnetic order, and quantum spin liquid. They may bring new opportunities and perspectives to emergent physics.

This review summarizes the strategies for modulating the active sites of MOF-derived catalysts by adjusting the electronic structure and extensively investigates the reaction mechanisms of ORR and OER in the charging and discharging processes of metal-air batteries.

This review aims to clarify the underlined mechanism of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption and elaborate on the impact of RE doping by providing a comprehensive overview of recent progress in ferrites and MOFs dopped with RE elements. Finally, the limitations associated with RE doping in such materials are delineated, and the upcoming prospects for its application are highlighted.

Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) offer a versatile platform to investigate emergent physics, the collective behavior of condensed matter stemming from many-body interactions, thanks to their atomic-level designability and high spatial ordering. Strong correlations, superconductivity, charge density wave, long-range magnetic order, and quantum spin liquid phenomena in MOFs have been evidenced recently. These pioneering studies demonstrate the great potential of MOFs as quantum materials yet reveal challenges for their deep physical characterizations. More details are discussed in the Emerging Topic by Wang et al. on page 2514—2519.

In a distant land where the balance of nature is under threat, PET plastic is surrounding the world. With unwavering determination, iron catalyst stands up as fearless soldiers, facing off against the insidious PET plastic. Drawing upon the power of O₂ arrows, iron catalyst's weapon of choice, a powerful reaction unfolded. The oxygen arrows break down the enemy's defenses, shattering its polymer chains into submission to harmless fragments that could be easily recovered. More details are discussed in the article by Zeng et al. on pages 2431—2437.