This review provides insights on how enzymatic reactivity tricks such as redox-active ligands, entatic state reactivity, electron bifurcation, and quantum tunneling can benefit chemists in the design of bioinspired catalytic systems.

Copper catalysis finds applications in various synthetic fields by utilizing the ability of copper to sustain mono- and bielectronic elementary steps. Further to the development of well-defined copper complexes with classical ligands such as phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes, a new and fast-expanding area of research is exploring the possibility of a complementing metal-centered reactivity with electronic participation by the coordination sphere. To achieve this electronic flexibility, redox-active ligands can be used to engage in a fruitful “electronic dialogue” with the metal center, and provide additional venues for electron transfer. This review aims to present the latest results in the area of copper-based cooperative catalysis with redox-active ligands.

The synthesis of the first mesogenic donor‐acceptor polyoxometalate (POM)‐based hybrid is herein described. The structural and electronic properties of the hybrid compound were evaluated through combination of small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, optical microscopy, electrochemistry and photoluminescence. In the solid state, the compound behaves as a birefringent solid, displaying a lamellar organization in which double‐layers of POMs and bis(thiophene)thienothiophene organic donors alternate regularly. Noticeably, the sub‐unit organizations in the composite are similar to that observed for the individual POM and organic donor precursors. Photophysical studies show that in the hybrid, the fluorescence of the organic donor unit is considerably quenched both in solution and in the solid state, which is attributed to occurrence of intramolecular charge‐separated state.