The development of mild and general methods for C-S bond formation has received significant attention because the C-S bond is indispensable in many important biological and pharmaceutical compounds. Early examples for the synthesis of C-S bonds are generally limited to the condensation reaction between a metal thiolate and an organic halide. Recent chemical approaches for C-S bond formation, based upon direct C-H bond functionalization and decarboxylative reactions, not only provide new insights into the mechanistic understanding of C-S coupling reactions but also allow the synthesis of sulfur-containing compounds from more effective synthetic routes with high atom economy. This review intends to explore recent advances in C-S bond formation via C-H functionalization and decarboxylation, and the growing opportunities they present to the construction of complex chemical scaffolds for applications encompassing natural product synthesis, synthetic methodology development, and functional materials as well as nanotechnology.

Using the achiral diazine ligands bearing two bidentate pyridylimino groups as sources of conformational chirality, five azido-bridged coordination polymers are prepared and characterized crystallographically and magnetically. The chirality of the molecular units is induced by the coordination of the diazine ligands in a twisted chiral conformation. The use of L(1) (1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-1-amino-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) and L(2) (1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,4-diamino-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) induces spontaneous resolution, yielding conglomerates of chiral compounds [Mn(3)(L(1))(2)(N(3))(6)](n) (1) and [Mn(2)(L(2))(2)(N(3))(3)](n)(ClO(4))(n).nH(2)O (2), respectively, where triangular (1) or double helical (2) chiral units are connected into homochiral one-dimensional (1D) chains via single end-to-end (EE) azido bridges. The chains are stacked via hydrogen bonds in a homochiral fashion to yield chiral crystals. When L(3) (2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene) is employed, a partial spontaneous resolution occurs, where binuclear chiral units are interlinked into fish-scale-like homochiral two-dimensional (2D) layers via single EE azido bridges. The layers are stacked in a heterochiral or homochiral fashion to yield simultaneously a racemic compound, [Mn(2)(L(3))(N(3))(4)](n) (3a), and a conglomerate, [Mn(2)(L(3))(N(3))(4)](n).nMeOH (3b). On the other hand, the ligand without amino and methyl substituents (L(4), 1,4-bis(2-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene) does not induce spontaneous resolution. The resulting compound, [Mn(2)(L(4))(N(3))(4)](n) (4), consists of centrosymmetric 2D layers with alternating single diazine, single EE azido, and double end-on (EO) azido bridges, where the chirality is destroyed by the centrosymmetric double EO bridges. These compounds exhibit very different magnetic behaviors. In particular, 1 behaves as a metamagnet built of homometallic ferrimagnetic chains with a unique "fused-triangles" topology, 2 behaves as a 1D antiferromagnet with alternating antiferromagnetic interactions, 3a and 3b behave as spin-canted weak ferromagnets with different critical temperatures, and 4 also behaves as a spin-canted weak ferromagnet but exhibits two-step magnetic transitions.

Here, direct and effective electrostatic-driven exfoliation of tungsten trioxide (WO ) powder into atomically thin WO nanosheets is demonstrated for the first time. Experimental evidence together with theoretical simulations clearly reveal that the strong binding of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the surface of WO via the protonation of NH groups in acidic conditions leads to the effective exfoliation of WO nanosheets under sonication. The exfoliated WO nanosheets have a greatly improved dispersity and stability due to surface-protective function of BSA, and exhibit a better performance and unique advantages in applications such as visible-light-driven photocatalysis, high-capacity adsorption, and fast electrochromics. Further, simultaneous exfoliation and hybridization of WO and MoS nanosheets are demonstrated to form hybrid WO /MoS nanosheets through respective electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction processes. In addition, this electrostatic-driven exfoliation strategy is applied to exfoliate ultrathin black-phosphorus nanosheets from its bulk to exhibit a greatly improved stability due to the surface protection by BSA. Overall, the work presented not only presents a facile and effective route to fabricate 2D materials but also brings more opportunities to exploit unusual exotic and synergistic properties in resulting hybrid 2D materials for novel applications.

By incorporating an achiral diazine ligand, 2-pyridylmethylketazine, which can be locked in a chiral conformation upon coordination, into the manganese(II)-azido system, we induced a homochiral 2D network, in which neighboring Mn(II) ions are bridged via a diazine and two end-on azido ligands into chiral dimeric units, and neighboring units are interlinked via single end-to-end azido bridges. The interdimer chirality preservation is achieved via the homochiral 1D helical linkage formed by Mn(II) and end-to-end azido ions. The 2D layers are stacked in hetero- and homochiral fashion to yield simultaneously racemic and chiral crystals, indicating a partial spontaneous resolution. Both compounds behave as spin-canted weak ferromagnets, but the critical temperatures are different.

Five Mn(II)[bond]azido coordination polymers of formula [Mn(L)(N(3))(2)](n) have been synthesized and crystallographically characterized, and their magnetic properties studied, where L's are the bidentate Schiff bases obtained from the condensation of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde with aniline (1) and its derivatives p-toluidine (2), m-toluidine (3), p-chloroaniline (4), and m-chloroaniline (5). All the complexes consist of the zigzag Mn(II)[bond]azido chains in which the Mn(II) ions are alternately bridged by two end-to-end (EE) and two end-on (EO) azido ligands, the cis-octahedral coordination being completed by the two nitrogen atoms of the Schiff base ligands. Compound 2 is unique in that the Mn[bond](EE-N(3))(2)[bond]Mn ring adopts an unusual twist conformation with the two linear azido bridges crossing each other. By contrast, the rings in the other compounds take the usual chair conformation with the two azido bridges parallel. The double EO bridging fragments in the complexes are similar with the bridging angles (Mn[bond]N[bond]Mn) ranging from 99.6 degrees to 104.0 degrees. Magnetic analyses reveal that alternating ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions are mediated through the alternating EO and EE azido bridges with the J(F) and J(AF) parameters in the ranges of 4.1-8.0 and -11.8 to -15.4 cm(-1), respectively. Finally, the magnetostructural correlations are investigated. The present complexes follow the general trend that the ferromagnetic interaction through the double EO bridge increases with the Mn[bond]N[bond]Mn bridging angle, while the antiferromagnetic interaction through the double EE bridge is dependent on the distortion of the Mn[bond](N(3))(2)[bond]Mn ring from planarity toward the chair conformation and the Mn[bond]N[bond]N angle.

The growth mechanism of α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles in solution has been elucidated from a comprehensive analysis on the shape and morphology of obtained particles. It is found that the hydrothermal synthesis of α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles from ferric chloride precursor follows two stages: the initial nucleation of α-Fe 2 O 3 nuclei and the subsequent ripening of nuclei into various shapes. The initial nucleation involves the formation of polynuclears from hydrolysis of Fe 3+ salt precursors, followed by the growth of β-FeOOH nanowires with an akaganeite structure, and then into two-line ferrihydrite nanoparticles through a dissolution−recrystallization process. In the subsequent ripening process, we suggest that the formation of large α-Fe 2 O 3 particles follows the dissolution of two-line ferrihydrite and then precipitation and oriented aggregation of α-Fe 2 O 3 nuclei rather than the oriented aggregation of ferrihydrite nanoparticles followed by phase transformation. The oriented attachment of {104} facets between α-Fe 2 O 3 nuclei results in the formation of oblate spheroid nanocrystals (nanoflower-like particles) either in ethanol or in the beginning stage where the particles first undergo oriented aggregation. With the addition of water, Ostwald ripening process (dissolution−reprecipitation) will play an important role to convert the assembly of nanoflowers into a 3D rhombohedral shape with well-defined edges and surfaces. The proposed mechanism in this article not only allows us to better control the synthesis of iron oxide particles with designed shapes and structures but also provides guidance for theoretical simulations on the oriented attachment process for hematite formation.

Two soluble and stable dianthraceno[a,e]pentalenes with two (DAP1) and six (DAP2) phenyl substituents were synthesized. Both compounds possess a small energy band gap and show amphoteric redox behaviour due to intramolecular donor-accepter interactions. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that DAP2 has a closely packed structure with multi-dimensional [C-H···π] interactions although there are no π-π interactions between the dianthraceno[a,e]pentalene cores. As a result, solution-processed field effect transistors based on DAP2 exhibited an average hole mobility of 0.65 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Under similar conditions, DAP1 showed an average field effect hole mobility of 0.001 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1).

Three one-dimensional (1D) azido-bridged coordination polymers of formula [Cu(L)(N3)2]n (1), [Cu2(Me-L)(N3)4]n (2), and [Mn(L)(N3)2]n (3) have been synthesized and structurally characterized, and their magnetic properties studied, where L and Me-L are 2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine and 2-(3-methylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine, respectively. Compound 1 consists of 1D chains in which the Cu(II) ions with a square pyramidal geometry are alternately bridged by an end-to-end (EE) and an end-on (EO) azido ligands, both adopting a basal-apical disposition. Compound 2 exhibits an unprecedented chain topology built via three different kinds of EO azido bridges. Four Cu(II) ions in the square pyramidal environment are alternately bridged by single and double EO bridges to form a tetranuclear cyclic ring, and neighboring rings are interlinked by double EO bridges to generate a "chain of rings". The intraannular double azido ions are disposed between metal ions in a basal-basal fashion, and the other two kinds of azido ions adopt the basal-apical disposition. Compound 3 consists of 1D concave-convex chains in which cis-octahedrally coordinated Mn(II) ions are alternately bridged by double EE and double EO bridges. There exist pi-pi interactions between the ligands bound to the neighboring Mn(II) ions bridged by the EO bridges. Temperature- and field-dependent magnetic analyses reveal alternate ferromagnetic interactions for 1, dominating ferromagnetic interactions for 2, and alternating ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions through the EO and EE azido bridges for 3, respectively.