Nickel( ii )-catalyzed C–C cross-coupling of secondary and primary alcohols selectively produced β-alkylated secondary alcohols, α-alkylated ketones and α,β-unsaturated ketones.

The Cu(I)-mediated C–S bond cleavage of 5-methyl-4-(p-tolyl)pyrimidine-2-thiol (mtpmtH) gave one 30-nuclear cluster [Cu₃₀I₁₆(mtpmt)₁₂(μ₁₀-S₄)], one polymeric complex [(bmtpms)Cu-(μ-I)]_n and one tetranuclear complex [(bmptmds){Cu(μ-I)}₂]₂; the 30-nuclear cluster displayed excellent catalytic performances in the coupling reactions of N-heterocycles and arylboronic acids and could be recycled and reused.