Nonfused-ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) can be considered as one of the most promising candidates for low-cost active-layer materials. Through the incorporation of asymmetric end-group engineering, the resulting asymmetric acceptor demonstrates improved optophysical properties and packing behavior, such as a more coplanar π-conjugated backbone, a broader light absorption range, and appropriate crystallinity. More details are discussed in the article by Liu et al. on page 485—490.

Functionalization of unactivated sp³ C—H bonds of cyclic and linear alkanes to high-value-added chemicals is one of the most important classes of chemical transformations and has high synthetic potential in synthetic chemistry. A metal-free, green, and sustainable functionalization of unactivated alkyl sp³ C—H bonds is reported using iodine(III) as a feasible dehydrogenation agent under visible light or KBr, and alkyl chlorides, bromides, alcohols, and ketones could be constructed by addition of different coupling reagents. More details are discussed in the article by Zhai et al. on page 505—510.

We report here a practical and robust approach for the synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted cyclobutanones from readily available dichlorocyclobutanones via oxyallyl cations. Both aryl and alkyl substituents could be introduced efficiently. Further synthetic utility leads to the preparation of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutane.

A novel strategy for palladium-catalyzed regioselective aminohalogenation between unactivated olefin, sulfonamide, and N-halo compounds with anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity has been established to build architecturally versatile and functionally diverse vicinal haloamine in a single step. This protocol broadens the breadth of the direct anti-Markovnikov chemistry of simple olefin feedstock. The N-halo compound is hypothesized to serve a dual role: as a halide regulator to facilitate anti-Markovnikov amination of the olefin substrate and as an oxidant to enable C-X bond formation.

The formation of donor-acceptor complex from iodine electrophiles and gem-difluoroalkenes enabled single electron transfer (SET) process instead of the traditional formation of iodonium ions.

The asymmetric end-group engineering was employed to construct a new nonfused-ring electron acceptor (NFREA), namely NoCA-19 containing two distinct end-groups. Compared with symmetric acceptors, asymmetric acceptor NoCA-19 possesses broad light absorption range, more coplanar π-conjugated backbone, and appropriate crystallinity. Thus, NoCA-19-based organic solar cell shows a considerable power conversion efficiency of 12.26%, demonstrating the potential of asymmetric end-group engineering in achieving low-cost and high-performance NFREAs.

The MOF/DBCZ-based multifunctional gel with pH triggered fluorescence and RTP variation was applied in monitoring of sweat pH and dual-mode anti-counterfeiting.

A copper-free click chemistry-mediated assembly of single quantum dot (QD) nanosensor was constructed for accurately monitoring locus-specific m⁶A in cancer cells. This assay can be homogenously performed without the involvement of copper catalyst, m⁶A-specific antibody, radioactive labeling, ligase enzyme, enzymatic reverse transcription, and next-generation sequencing. Moreover, it can discriminate even 0.01% m⁶A level in complex samples and accurately measure cellular m⁶A-RNA expression, providing a promising avenue for clinical diagnostics and biomedical research.

A metal-free, green, and sustainable functionalization of unactivated alkyl sp³ C—H bonds is reported using iodine(III) as a feasible dehydrogenation agent under visible light or KBr to activate the alkyl sp³ C—H bond in a highly efficient manner, which can construct different alkylation products by adding corresponding coupling reagents.

It is still important and promising for the development of dynamic polymer materials containing trifluoromethyl as well as their application in advanced resin matrix composites. We demonstrated that the reversibility of imine bond formation and temperature-dependent rate of the imine exchange enabled heat or water-driven malleability of such crosslinked polyimines derived from trifluoromethyl diphenoxybenzene backbones.

A series of cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) and benzothiadiazole (BT)-based π-conjugated oligomers are facilely synthesized by an atom- and step-economical, and labor-saving direct C—H arylation (DACH) reaction (i.e., C—H/C—Br cross coupling) with regulated opto-electronic properties and performance.

This review explores the application of thermoelectric hydrogels in self-powered sensors, integrated modules, and heat harvesting management. More details are discussed in the article by Wang et al. on page 543—556.

Oxyallyl cations, as powerful electrophilic intermediates, have shown versatile utilities in organic synthesis. Modular synthesis of multi-substituted cyclobutanones enabled by oxyallyl cations provides facile access to multi-substituted cyclobutanones via direct nucleophilic substitution of (di)chlorocyclobutanones under mild basic conditions. Both aryl or alkyl substituents could be efficiently introduced on the four-membered ring skeleton. Further transformation leads to tetrasubstituted cyclobutane derivatives in a stereoselective manner, demonstrating potential synthetic utility. More details are discussed in the article by Lu et al. on page 459—463.