Phosphine-Capped Effects Enable Full-Color Clusteroluminescence in Nonconjugated Polyesters

Full-color luminophores have advanced applications in materials and engineering, but constructing color-tunable clusteroluminescence (CL) from nonconjugated polymers based on through-space interactions remains a huge challenge. Herein, we develop phosphine-capped nonconjugated polyesters exhibiting blue-to-red CL (400-700 nm) based on phosphine-initiated copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides, especially P1-0.5TPP, which exhibits red CL (610 nm) with a high quantum yield of 32%. Experiments and theoretical calculations disclose that the phosphine-capped effect in polyesters brings about conformational changes and induces phosphine-ester clusters by through-space (n,π*) interactions. Moreover, CL colors and efficiencies can be easily tailored by types of phosphines, compositions and structures of polyesters, and concentration. Significantly, the role of polymer motions (group, segmental, and chain motions) on CL originating from microregions inside polyesters is revealed. Further, phosphine-capped nonconjugated polyesters are demonstrated to be nonconjugated dyes and fluorescent fibers and are also used for multicolor light-emitting diodes including white light. This work not only provides an engineering strategy based on the end-group effect to prepare full-color clusteroluminogens but also broadens the prospects for material applications.

Near-Infrared Emission Beyond 900 nm from Stable Radicals in Nonconjugated Poly(diphenylmethane)

Organic radicals with narrow energy gaps are highly sought-after for the production of near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores. However, the current repertoire of developed organic radicals is notably limited, facing challenges related to stability and low fluorescence efficiency. This study addresses these limitations by achieving stable radicals in nonconjugated poly(diphenylmethane) (PDPM). Notably, PDPM exhibits a well-balanced structural flexibility and rigidity, resulting in a robust intra-/inter-chain through-space conjugation (TSC). The stable radicals within PDPM, coupled with strong TSC, yield a remarkable full-spectrum emission spanning from blue to NIR beyond 900 nm. This extensive tunability is achieved through careful adjustments of concentration and excitation wavelength. The findings highlight the efficacy of polymerization in stabilizing radicals and introduce a novel approach for developing nonconjugated NIR emitters based on triphenylmethane subunits.

Heteroatom-facilitated blue to near-infrared emission of nonconjugated polyesters

Making nonconjugated polymers to emit visible light remains a formidable challenge, let alone near-infrared (NIR) light, although NIR luminophores have many advanced applications. Herein, we propose an electron-bridging strategy of using heteroatoms (O, N, and S) to achieve tunable emission from blue to NIR regions (440-800 nm) in nonconjugated polyesters. Especially, sulfur-containing polyester P4 exhibits NIR clusteroluminescence (CL) on changing either the concentration or excitation wavelength. Experimental characterization and theoretical calculation demonstrate that the introduction of heteroatoms significantly enhances the through-space interactions (TSIs) via the electron-bridging effect between heteroatoms and carbonyls. The strength of the electron-bridging effect follows the order of S > N > O, based on two synergistic effects: electronic structure and van der Waals radius of heteroatoms. This work provides a low-cost, scalable platform to produce new-generation nonconjugated luminophores with deeper insight into the photophysical mechanism.

How the Length of Through-Space Conjugation Influences the Clusteroluminescence of Oligo(Phenylene Methylene)s

The length and mode of conjugation directly affect the molecular electronic structure, which has been extensively studied in through-bond conjugation (TBC) systems. Corresponding research greatly promotes the development of TBC-based luminophores. However, how the length and mode of through-space conjugation (TSC), one kind of weak interaction, influence the photophysical properties of non-conjugated luminophores remains a relatively unexplored field. Here, we unveil a non-linear relationship between TSC length and emission characteristics in non-conjugated systems, in contrast to the reported proportional correlation in TBC systems. More specifically, oligo(phenylene methylene)s (OPM[4]-OPM[7]) exhibit stronger TSC and prominent blue clusteroluminescence (CL) (≈440 nm) compared to shorter counterparts (OPM[2] and OPM[3]). OPM[6] demonstrates the highest solid-state quantum yield (40 %), emphasizing the importance of balancing flexibility and rigidity. Further theoretical calculations confirmed that CL of these oligo(phenylene methylene)s was determined by stable TSC derived from the inner rigid Diphenylmethane (DPM) segments within the oligomers instead of the outer ones. This discovery challenges previous assumptions and adds a new dimension to the understanding of TSC-based luminophores in non-conjugated systems.

Enabling nonconjugated polyesters emit full-spectrum fluorescence from blue to near-infrared

Near-infrared luminophores have many advantages in advanced applications, especially for structures without π-conjugation aromatic rings. However, the fabrication of red clusteroluminogens from nonconjugated polymers is still a big challenge, let alone the near-infrared clusteroluminogens. Here, we develop nonconjugated luminophores with full-spectrum from blue to near-infrared light (470 ~ 780 nm), based on color phenomenon of nonconjugated polyesters synthesized from the amine-initiated copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. We reveal that amines act as initiators attached to polymer chain ends. The formation of various amine-ester complexes in polyesters induces red to near-infrared light, conceptually, amine-ester complexed clusteroluminescence via intra/inter-chain charge transfer. Significantly, emission colors can be easily tuned by the contents and types of amines, microstructures of polyesters, and their concentration. This work provides a low-cost, scalable platform and strategy for the production of high-efficiency, multicolor luminescent materials.

Excited-State Odd-Even Effect in Through-Space Interactions

The odd-even effect is a fantastic phenomenon in nature, which has been applied in diverse fields such as organic self-assembled monolayers and liquid crystals. Currently, the origin of each odd-even effect remains elusive, and all of the reported odd-even effects are related to the ground-state properties. Here, we discover an excited-state odd-even effect in the through-space interaction (TSI) of nonconjugated tetraphenylalkanes (TPAs). The TPAs with an even number of alkyl carbon atoms (C2-TPA, C4-TPA, and C6-TPA) show strong TSI, long-wavelength emission, and high QY. However, the odd ones (C1-TPA, C3-TPA, C5-TPA, and C7-TPA) are almost nonexistent with negligible QY. Systematically experimental and theoretical results reveal that the excited-state odd-even effect is synthetically determined by three factors: alkyl geometry, molecular movability, and intermolecular packing. Moreover, these flexible luminescent TPAs possess tremendous advantages in fluorescent information encryptions. This work extends the odd-even effect to photophysics, demonstrating its substantial importance and universality in nature.

All-organic polymeric materials with high refractive index and excellent transparency

High refractive index polymers (HRIPs) have drawn attention for their optoelectronic applications and HRIPs with excellent transparency and facile preparation are highly demanded. Herein, sulfur-containing all organic HRIPs with refractive indices up to 1.8433 at 589 nm and excellent optical transparency even in one hundred micrometre scale in the visual and RI region as well as high weight-average molecular weights (up to 44500) are prepared by our developed organobase catalyzed polymerization of bromoalkynes and dithiophenols in yields up to 92%. Notably, the fabricated optical transmission waveguides using the resultant HRIP with the highest refractive index display a reduced propagation loss compared with that generated by the commercial material of SU-8. In addition, the tetraphenylethylene containing polymer not only exhibits a reduced propagation loss, but also is used to examine the uniformity and continuity of optical waveguides with naked eyes because of its aggregation-induced emission feature.

NIR Clusteroluminescence of Non-conjugated Phenolic Resins Enabled by Through-Space Interactions

Clusteroluminescence (CL) and through-space interactions (TSIs) of non-conjugated molecules have drawn more attention due to their unique photophysical behaviors that are different from largely conjugated luminogens. However, achieving red and even near-infrared (NIR) emission from such systems is still challenging due to the intrinsic drawbacks of non-conjugated molecules and the lack of theories for structure-property relationships. In this work, six phenolic resins are designed and synthesized based on two molecule-engineering strategies: increasing the number of TSIs units and introducing electron-donating/-withdrawing groups. All phenolic resins are verified as luminogens with CL property (CLgens), and the first example of CLgens with NIR emission (maximum emission wavelength ≥ 680 nm) and high absolute quantum yield (47%) is reported. Experiments and theoretical analysis reveal that two TSIs types, through-space locally excited state and through-space charge transfer state, play essential roles in achieving CL from these non-conjugated polymers, which could be manipulated via changing structural conformation and electron density or altering electron transition behaviors. This work not only provides an approach to manipulate TSIs and CL of non-conjugated polymers but also endows commercially available phenolic resins with high practical value as luminescence materials.

Applications of Polyacetylene Derivatives in Gas and Liquid Separation

As a low energy consumption, simple operation and environmentally friendly separation method, membrane separation has attracted extensive attention. Therefore, researchers have designed and synthesized various types of separation membrane, such as metal organic framework (MOF), covalent organic framework (COF), polymer of intrinsic micro-porosity (PIM) and mixed matrix membranes. Some substituted polyacetylenes have distorted structures and formed micropores due to the existence of rigid main chains and substituted side groups, which can be applied to the field of membrane separation. This article mainly introduces the development and application of substituted polyacetylenes in gas separation and liquid separation based on membrane technology.

Copolymers of 4-Trimethylsilyl Diphenyl Acetylene and 1-Trimethylsilyl-1-Propyne: Polymer Synthesis and Luminescent Property Adjustment

Poly(4-trimethylsilyl diphenyl acetylene) (PTMSDPA) has strong fluorescence emission, but its application is limited by the effect of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Copolymerization is a commonly used method to adjust the properties of polymers. Through the copolymerization of 4-trimethylsilyl diphenyl acetylene and 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne (TMSP), we successfully realized the conversion of PTMSDPA from ACQ to aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AEE). By controlling the monomer feeding ratio and with the increase of the content of TMSDPA inserted into the copolymer, the emission peak was red-shifted, and a series of copolymers of poly(TMSDPA-co-TMSP) that emit blue-purple to orange-red light was obtained, and the feasibility of the application in explosive detection was verified. With picric acid (PA) as a model explosive, a super-quenching process has been observed, and the quenching constant (K_SV) calculated from the Stern-Volmer equation is 24,000 M^-1, which means that the polymer is potentially used for explosive detection.

Thermosensitive Microgels Containing AIEgens: Enhanced Luminescence and Distinctive Photochromism for Dynamic Anticounterfeiting

The proposal of the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect shines a light on the practical application of luminescent materials. The AIE-active luminescence microgels (TPEC MGs) with photo-induced color-changing behavior were developed by integrating positively charged AIE luminogens (AIEgens) into the anionic network of microgels, where AIEgens of TPEC were obtained from the quaternization reaction between tetra-(4-pyridylphenyl)ethylene (TPE-4Py) and 7-(6-bromohexyloxy)-coumarin. The aqueous suspensions of TPEC MGs exhibit a significant AIE effect following the enhancement of quantum yield. In addition, further increase in fluorescence intensity and blueshift occur at elevated temperatures due to the collapse of microgels. The distinctive photochromic behavior of TPEC MGs was observed, which presents as the transition from orange-yellow to blue-green color under UV irradiation, which is different from TPEC in good organic solvents. The phenomenon of color changing can be ascribed to the competition between photodimerization of the coumarin part and photocyclization of TPE-4Py in TPEC. The photochromic TPEC MG aqueous suspensions can be conducted as aqueous microgel inks for information display, encryption, and dynamic anticounterfeiting.

Functional polydiynes prepared by metathesis cyclopolymerization of 1,7-dihalogen-1,6-heptadiyne derivatives

The MCP route used for the polymerization of 1,6-heptadiynes was successfully applied to the polymerization of 1,7-dihalogen-1,6-heptadiynes, and the target polymers were obtained in high yield with high molecular weight and unique UCST behavior.

Sulfur Conversion to Multifunctional Poly(O-thiocarbamate)s through Multicomponent Polymerizations of Sulfur, Diols, and Diisocyanides

Sulfur, which is generated from the waste byproducts in the oil and gas refinery industry, is an abundant, cheap, stable, and readily available source in the world. However, the utilization of excessive amounts of sulfur is mostly limited, and developing novel methods for sulfur conversion is still a global concern. Here, we report a facile one-step conversion from elemental sulfur to functional poly(O-thiocarbamate)s through a multicomponent polymerization of sulfur, diols, and diisocyanides, which possesses a series of advantages such as mild condition (55 °C), short reaction time (1 h), 100% atom economy, and transition-metal free in the catalyst system. Seven poly(O-thiocarbamate)s are constructed with high yields (up to 95%), large molecular weight (up to 53100 of M_w), good solubility in organic solvents, and completely new polymer structures. The poly(O-thiocarbamate)s possess a high refractive index above 1.7 from 600 to 1700 nm by adjusting the sulfur content. By incorporating tetraphenylethene (TPE) moieties into the polymer structure, the poly(O-thiocarbamate)s can also be designed as fluorescent sensors to detect harmful metal cation of Hg²⁺ in a turn-on mode with high sensitivity (LOD = 32 nM) and excellent selectivity (over interference cations of Pb²⁺, Au³⁺, Ag⁺). Different from the previous reports, the exact coordination structure is first identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which is revealed in a tetracoordination fashion (two sulfur and two chloride) using a model coordination compound.

Aggregation-Induced Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species: Mechanism and Photosensitizer Construction

Luminogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) have been widely applied in the field of photodynamic therapy. Among them, aggregation-induced emission photosensitizers (AIE-PSs) are demonstrated with high capability in fluorescence and photoacoustic bimodal imaging, as well as in fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy. They not only improve diagnosis accuracy but also provide an efficient theranostic platform to accelerate preclinical translation as well. In this short review, we divide AIE-PSs into three categories. Through the analysis of such classification and construction methods, it will be helpful for scientists to further develop various types of AIE-PSs with superior performance.

Recent progress in the applications of amino–yne click chemistry

This mini-review summarizes the recent research studies on the application of the amino–yne click reaction in surface immobilization, construction of drug delivery systems, preparation of hydrogel materials and synthesis of functional polymers.

A side-chain engineering strategy for constructing fluorescent dyes with direct and ultrafast self-delivery to living cells

Organic fluorescent dyes with excellent self-delivery to living cells are always difficult to find due to the limitation of the plasma membrane having rigorous selectivity. Herein, in order to improve the permeability of dyes, we utilize a side-chain engineering strategy (SCES): adjusting the side-chain length of dyes to fine-tune the adsorption and desorption processes on the membrane–aqueous phase interfaces of the outer and inner leaflets of the plasma membrane. For this, a family of fluorescent derivatives (SPs) was prepared by functionalizing a styryl-pyridinium fluorophore with alkyl side-chains containing a different carbon number from 1 to 22. Systematic experimental investigations and simulated calculations demonstrate that the self-delivery rate of SPs with a suitable length side-chain is about 22-fold higher in SiHa cells and 76-fold higher in mesenchymal stem cells than that of unmodified SP-1, enabling cell-imaging at an ultralow loading concentration of 1 nM and deep penetration in turbid tissue and in vivo. Moreover, the SCES can even endow a membrane-impermeable fluorescent scaffold with good permeability. Further, quantitative research on the relationship between Clog P and cell permeability shows that when Clog P is in the range of 1.3–2.5, dyes possess optimal permeability. Therefore, this work not only systematically reports the effect of side-chain length on dye delivery for the first time, but also provides some ideal fluorescent probes. At the same time, it gives a suitable Clog P range for efficient cellular delivery, which can serve as a guide for designing cell-permeant dyes. In a word, all the results reveal that the SCES is an effective strategy to dramatically improve dye permeability.

A side-chain engineering strategy can dramatically improve dye delivery by fine-tuning the adsorption and desorption abilities of the transmembrane process, enabling ultralow loading bioimaging and deep tissue penetration.

Pyrene-Functionalized Polyacetylenes: Synthesis and Photoluminescence Property

Four pyrene-functionalized polyacetylenes were designed and prepared through a typical post-polymerization modification route, which is the highly efficient reaction between activated ester and primary anime groups. The chemical structures of the resultant polymers were characterized with multiple spectroscopic techniques and the data indicated the successful functionalization of the polyacetylenes. The introduction of the pyrene moieties into the polymer structure allowed us to investigate the interactions between the polymer backbone and side chains. For the mono-substituted polyacetylenes, both the monomer and excimer emission features of the pyrene groups could be recorded, while for the di-substituted polyacetylenes, the fluorescence from the pyrene excimer vanished and the fluorescence intensity from the pyrene monomer decreased, the fluorescence from the polymer chain predominated the emission features. The concomitant energy transfer from the pyrene monomer and excimer to poly(diphenylacetylene) backbone was associated with the underlying mechanism. In addition to the substitution modes, the linkage between the poly(diphenylacetylene) backbone and the pyrene moiety also played a significant role in the determination of the emission species. A long alkyl spacer was beneficial to the pyrene monomer emission while a short one may be helpful to the formation of the excimer and intramolecular energy transfer.

Specific Targeting, Imaging, and Ablation of Tumor-Associated Macrophages by Theranostic Mannose-AIEgen Conjugates

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that exist in tumor microenvironment promote tumor progression and have been suggested as a promising therapeutic target for cancer therapy in preclinical studies. Development of theranostic systems capable of specific targeting, imaging, and ablation of TAMs will offer clinical benefits. Here we constructed a theranostic probe, namely, TPE-Man, by attaching mannose moieties to a red-emissive and AIE (aggregation-induced emission)-active photosensitizer. TPE-Man can specifically recognize a mannose receptor that is overexpressed on TAMs by the sugar-receptor interaction and enables fluorescent visualization of the mannose-receptor-positive TAMs in high contrast. The histologic study of mouse tumor sections further verifies TPE-Man's excellent targeting specificity being comparable with the commercial mannose-receptor antibody. TAMs can be effectively eradicated upon exposure to white light irradiation via a photodynamic therapy effect. To our knowledge, this is the first small molecular theranostic probe for TAMs that revealed combined advantages of low cost, high targeting specificity, fluorescent light-up imaging, and efficient photodynamic ablation.

Visualization and quantification of cellular RNA production and degradation using a combined fluorescence and mass spectrometry characterization assay

A combined fluorescence and mass spectrometry assay is developed to visualize and quantify cellular RNA production and degradation.

Polymerization of 1-chloro-2-phenylacetylene derivatives by using a Brookhart-type catalyst

A Brookhart-type catalyst (α-diimine)PdMeCl/AgOTf works well in the polymerization of 1-chloro-2-phenylacetylene monomers bearing nonpolar/polar and electron releasing/withdrawing substituents in nonpolar/polar solvents.

In situ monitoring of molecular aggregation using circular dichroism

The aggregation of molecules plays an important role in determining their function. Electron microscopy and other methods can only characterize the variation of microstructure, but are not capable of monitoring conformational changes. These techniques are also complicated, expensive and time-consuming. Here, we demonstrate a simple method to monitor in-situ and in real-time the conformational change of (R)-1,1'-binaphthyl-based polymers during the aggregation process using circular dichroism. Based on results from molecular dynamics simulations and experimental circular dichroism measurements, polymers with "open" binaphthyl rings are found to show stronger aggregation-annihilated circular dichroism effects, with more negative torsion angles between the two naphthalene rings. In contrast, the polymers with "locked" rings show a more restrained aggregation-annihilated circular dichroism effect, with only a slight change of torsion angle. This work provides an approach to monitor molecular aggregation in a simple, accurate, and efficient way.

Single Chromophore-Based White-Light-Emitting Hydrogel with Tunable Fluorescence and Patternability

Bioluminescence is widespread in nature such as the jellyfish, which inspires scientists to design polymer hydrogels with tunable fluorescence. However, it remains a big challenge to develop white-light-emitting hydrogels with local tunability of the fluorescent behavior. Herein, we report a white fluorescent hydrogel prepared by one-pot micellar copolymerization of hydrophilic acrylamide and hydrophobic single donor-acceptor chromophore monomer, in which the unimer and the dimer of the chromophore coexist and generate high- and low-energy emission, respectively, under excitation. The fluorescent behavior of the hydrogel can be well tuned by phototreatment or heat treatment that induces unimer-to-dimer transformation of the chromophore and thus variation of the fluorescent color from blue to white and then to yellow. The fluorescence can also be reversibly switched off by forming terpyridine-Cu²⁺ chelate complexes and recovered by using chelating agent to extract the Cu²⁺ ions out of the gel matrix. These properties afford patterning the fluorescent hydrogel, which is transparent under daylight yet shows the pattern under ultraviolet light. These patterned fluorescent hydrogels should find applications in protected message display for improved information security.

Kinetic Insights into Marangoni Effect-Assisted Preparation of Ultrathin Hydrogel Films

In a previous work ( ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 34349-34355), a facile approach was reported to prepare thin hydrogel films based on the Marangoni effect. After dripping onto a water surface, a drop of ethanol solution of poly(stearyl acrylate- co-acrylic acid) [P(SA- co-AAc)] spread quickly to form a thin film. The solvent exchange from ethanol to water led to the gelation of polymer solution which turned into a hydrogel film. Here, we investigate the scenario and seek for the governing kinetics of the Marangoni effect-assisted preparation of hydrogel films. By incorporating aggregation-induced emission fluorogens into the P(SA- co-AAc) solution, so that fluorescence appears at the gel state, we found that the spreading usually completed before the full gelation of the entire film. The spreading and formation of the gel films were influenced by the molar fraction of SA, f, and the polymer concentration of ethanol solution, C_P. The spreading was blocked when C_P was too high, whereas the film was fragmented into small pieces when C_P was too low. At an intermediate C_P, uniform hydrogel films were obtained. Steady spreading at a constant speed was observed during the processes which yielded uniform hydrogel films. Both C_P and f influenced the spreading process by tuning the surface tension of the ethanol solution and the viscoelasticity of the gelated film, as suggested by our theoretical model. This work provided kinetic insights into the Marangoni phenomena of viscous polymer solutions. The strategy and principle should be applicable to other systems on preparing thin supramolecular gel films with versatile functions.

Unveiling the Different Emission Behavior of Polytriazoles Constructed from Pyrazine-Based AIE Monomers by Click Polymerization

Polymers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics have aroused tremendous interest because of their potential applications in large-area flexible display and luminescent self-assembling, and as stimuli-responsive and porous materials. However, the design of AIE-active polymers is always not as easy as that of small molecules because their properties are hard to predict. In some cases, the polymers prepared from the AIE-active monomers show the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) instead of AIE effect. To understand the structure-property relationship of the polymers constructed from the AIE monomers, in this paper, two pyrazine-containing AIE monomers were utilized to construct luminescent polymers by click polymerization. The photophysical property investigation indicates that the polytriazole containing tetraphenylpyrazine units is AIE-active, whereas that bearing 2,3-dicyano-5,6-diphenylpyrazine units suffers from the ACQ effect. Through systematical investigation, the cause for such difference was unveiled. Thus, this work provides a useful guidance for further design of AIE-active polymers.

A unimolecular theranostic system with H2O2-specific response and AIE-activity for doxorubicin releasing and real-time tracking in living cells

A theranostic drug delivery system composed of tetraphenyl-ethene (AIEgen), benzyl boronic ester (trigger), and doxorubicin (drug) was designed and synthesized; its utilities for cell imaging, drug delivery tracking, and cancer cell cytociding were evaluated.

A theranostic drug delivery system composed of tetraphenylethene (AIE-gen), benzyl-boronic ester (trigger) and doxorubicin (drug) was synthesized and its functions in cell imaging, drug delivery tracking, and therapeutic effect were evaluated.

A novel pyridinium modified tetraphenylethene: AIE-activity, mechanochromism, DNA detection and mitochondrial imaging

A cationic AIE-gen demonstrates multiple functions including mechanoluminochromic and solvatochromic effects, fluorescence turn-on responses to DNA-binding and mitochondria-specific living cell imaging.

A red-emitting cationic hyperbranched polymer: facile synthesis, aggregation-enhanced emission, large Stokes shift, polarity-insensitive fluorescence and application in cell imaging

A cationic hyperbranched polymer containing TPE units demonstrates bright and stable red-emission with AEE-characteristics and good performance in cell imaging.

Poly(phenylene-ethynylene-alt-tetraphenylethene) copolymers: aggregation enhanced emission, induced circular dichroism, tunable surface wettability and sensitive explosive detection

Copolymer of poly(phenylene-ethynylene-alt-tetraphenylethene) were prepared via a facile route and tunable properties were realized by post-polymerization modification.

A two-channel responsive fluorescent probe with AIE characteristics and its application for selective imaging of superoxide anions in living cells

A red-to-green two-channel responsive and AIE-active fluorescent probe was developed to selectively detect superoxide anions in living cells.

Polymerization of 1-chloro-2-benzaldehyde-acetylene using an NHC-Pd/AgOTf catalyst and post-polymerization modification

Using NHC-Pd/AgOTf complex as catalyst, we realized the polymerization of 1-chloro-2-phenylacetylene derivative, which bears an electron-withdrawing aldehyde group for the subsequent post-polymerization modification.