The enantioselective 1,1-diarylation of allyl sulfones and vinyl sulfones is reported for the first time, enabled by a combination of Pd₂dba₃ and a chiral SPINOL-derived phosphoric acid. Various chiral sulfones containing 1,1-diarylalkane motifs were obtained in moderate to good yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities. Control experiments suggested that the sulfone group plays a key role in providing enantioselectivity and reactivity control and might serve as a directing group.

A novel supramolecular self-assembly nanostructure of porous helical nanoribbons (PHNRs) was developed. PHNRs from oligoaniline derivatives were fabricated through the chemical oxidation of aniline in an i-propanol/water mixture as mediated by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The role of β-CD was considered vital through the modulation of the addition time point of β-CD and the molar ratio of β-CD/aniline. In addition, at the early stage of polymerization, the host-guest complex between oligoaniline and β-CD was formed, which was involved in the initial supramolecular assembly process. However, with the reorganization of the oligoaniline assemblies during the polymerization time, the abscission of β-CD from the helical nanoribbons was observed, which eventually induced the formation of PHNRs. We believe the supramolecular host-modulated assembly strategy presented herein will be instructive for the fabrication of porous supramolecular nanostructures.

The emission of CO₂ has become an increasingly prominent issue. Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to value-added chemicals provides a promising strategy to mitigate energy shortage and achieve carbon neutrality. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are highly attractive for the fabrication of catalysts owing to their special electronic and geometric properties as well as a multitude of edge active sites. Various 2D materials have been proposed for synthesis and use in the conversion of CO₂ to versatile carbonous products. This review presents the latest progress on various 2D materials with a focus on their synthesis and applications in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂. Initially, the advantages of 2D materials for CO₂ electro-reduction are briefly discussed. Subsequently, common methods for the synthesis of 2D materials and the role of these materials in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ are elaborated. Finally, some perspectives for future investigations of 2D materials for CO₂ electro-reduction are proposed.

Owing to the intrinsic complexity of crystallization and the heterogeneity of precursors, the specific stages and corresponding behaviors of an actual crystallization system remain ambiguous, which makes the univariate-controlled crystallization-kinetics-regulated synthesis and design of zeolite morphology and porosity an unrealized blueprint. In this study, a facile and univariate modulation (i.e., OH^-/SiO₂) strategy was developed to regulate zeolite crystallization kinetics, and zeolite L mesocrystals were synthesized rapidly (within 1-2 h) with almost all LTL morphologies (from cylindrical or disc-like shapes to nanoclusters or nanocrystals) in the simplest SiO₂-Al₂O₃-K₂O-H₂O system. Using time-resolved analysis of the change in the solid-liquid Si/Al nutrient and crystallinity evolution, the intertwined and complex crystallization processes of zeolite L were clearly distinguished into four distinct stages: induction, nucleation, growth, and ripening. Under alkalinity-controlled conditions, the reactivity, Si/Al distribution, and state of aluminosilicates were critical to the formation of short-range order in the amorphous matrix, which greatly influenced the nucleation frequency and assembly state. Subsequently, these nucleation differences evoked correspondingly different kinetic growth behaviors. A putative alkalinity-controlled nonclassical crystallization mechanism was uncovered, and its validity was evaluated by analyzing morphology evolution, NH₄F etching, and the effects of modifiers. Furthermore, adsorption tests demonstrated the high adsorption capacity of a series of zeolite L for guest molecules with various sizes and properties (e.g., gaseous aromatic hydrocarbon, aqueous dye, and protein).

For more than four decades, the methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) reaction has been a successful route to producing valuable fuels and chemicals from non-petroleum feedstocks. This review provides the most comprehensive summary to date of recent research concerning the mechanistic fundamentals of this important reaction, covering different reaction stages. Mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the initial C-C bond formation during the induction stage of the MTH reaction are introduced, including the methoxymethyl cation, Koch carbonylation, carbene and methane-formaldehyde processes. At present, there is no consensus regarding these hypothetical mechanisms as a consequence of the limited amount of conclusive experimental evidence. The steady state of the MTH reaction is also examined with a focus on the widely accepted indirect hydrocarbon pool mechanism and the dual cycle concept that provides a mechanistic basis for the effects of zeolite structures and reaction conditions on product distribution. In the following section, advanced characterization techniques capable of providing new insights into the formation of coke species during the MTH reaction and innovative approaches effectively inhibiting coke formation are introduced. Finally, a summary is provided and perspectives on current challenges and the future development of this area are presented.