Photo-oxygenation represents an appealing strategy for the effective production of high value-added carbonyls by directly manipulating the ubiquitous C–H bonds. Nevertheless, the conventional transition-metal complexes or organic photosensitizers employed in light-driven oxygenation are often deemed cost-ineffective, thus detracting from the potential application in industrial production. Herein, we report a Brønsted acid-promoted aerobic photo-oxygenation protocol for the expedient construction of aromatic acids and ketones. The direct elaboration of bulk alkyl arenes is highly desirable, whereas avoiding the use of transition metals or photosensitizers adds another merit for this strategy. Notably, the acidic ionic liquid [BSPy][OTf] turns out to be an appropriate choice considering the viewpoints of eco-friendliness and reaction efficiency. Furthermore, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is demonstrated to be integral to the success of this transformation based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies and control experiments.

On account of the broad utilities of organophosphorus compounds, the development of highly efficient and concise phosphination methods is significantly important and urgent. Herein, we disclose a novel method for the synthesis of phosphorylated heterocycles: versatile intermediate propargylamines serving as a new type of radical acceptors incorporated in P-radicals via a photocatalytic strategy. This reaction proceeds through a cascade phosphinoylation/cyclization/oxidation/aromatization pathway using readily available starting materials under mild conditions of light with excellent atom economy, catalyzed by AgOAc or fac-Ir(ppy)₃. One of the phosphorylated quinolines was selected, as an example, as an electron-transporting material for fabricating phosphorescence organic light-emitting diodes displaying excellent electroluminescence performances with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 21.9% with negligible efficiency roll-off ratios.

A reversible molecular device in the nanoscale based on a DNA three-way junction (3WJ) fueled by Hg²⁺ binding and sequestration.

A novel method for the assembly of multisubstitued dihydropyridines has been developed starting from methyl propiolate and propargylamines. The reactions were efficiently catalyzed by AuPPh₃Cl to get high regioselectivity and high yields. And alternatively, since propargylamines could be easily derived by the CuCl-mediated addition of methyl propiolate to imines, the reactions could be carried out as a sequential three-component model.