Pages 905–1060 | Number 7 | Volume 44 | 1 April 2026

Breaking Report

Accelerated Interfacial Charge Transfer of Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Coatings to Enable Fast-Charging Lithium Metal Batteries

Xixu Lu, Guangtao Luo, Yixuan Liu, Wenran Wang, Peng Wen, and Xinrong Lin*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 915—923. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70407

Solid electrolyte interface (SEI) underpins the performance of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). While SEI has been probed to enhance interfacial stability and kinetics, the fast-charging capability of LMBs remains limited due to the growth of lithium dendrites and polarization at the interface. We have recently identified that ionic artificial SEI plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges, especially when integrating ionic fluoropolymers to optimize interfacial properties. Herein, we systematically studied the fundamental effect of ionic artificial SEI on interfacial kinetics by constructing a single-ion conducting polymer (P-SO3Li) layer using spin-coating, and compared it with conventional linear polymers and bare lithium anodes. Molecular simulations revealed that the sulfonic acid groups (-SO3?) in the P-SO3Li polymer could promote dissociation of Li+owing to electrostatic interactions. Meanwhile, electrochemical experimental results showed that the P-SO3Li polymer coating exhibited a lower desolvation energy barrier than PEO and bare lithium, and it had better dendrite suppression ability, while achieving exchange current densities comparable to bare lithium anodes. Through XPS observation of the lithium anode, it was found that the structure of the P-SO3Li polymer coating remained basically unchanged before and after cycling. Therefore, fast-charging cycles up to 5 C were successfully achieved, with a Coulombic efficiency of 95.4% and a capacity retention rate of 86.5% after 100 charge-discharge cycles. In contrast, electrically neutral PEO and bare lithium anodes could only attain Coulombic efficiencies of 93.7% and 90.4%, respectively, along with capacity retention rates of merely 77.9% and 60.6% after 100 cycles. This work informs the fundamental effect of charged interfacial structures underpinning the enhancement of fast-charging performance in LMBs.

Concise Reports

Catalytic Asymmetric Reductive Amination for Planar Chiral [2,2]Paracyclophanes via Desymmetrization and/or Kinetic Resolution

Yi Wang, Qin Shi, Zi-Rou Hu, Ming-Fei Duan, Cheng-Kuo Yang,You-Dong Shao,* and Dao-Juan Cheng*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 924—930. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70416

Despite the significant potential of planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane (PCP) derivatives in medicinal chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, and material science, their efficient synthesis remains a great challenge. The organocatalytic asymmetric reductive amination (ARA) represents a cornerstone methodology in the production of optically active amines. However, the application of ARA for the control of planar chirality in [2.2]PCPs has yet to be explored. To fill this gap, we describe herein an unprecedented chiral phosphoric acid (CPA)-promoted ARA of center-symmetrical pseudo-para-diformyl [2.2]PCP with aromatic amines in the presence of Hantzsch ester, which involves a desymmetrization/kinetic resolution (KR) sequence. The CPA serves as a competent bifunctional catalyst to facilitate differentiation of enantiotopic faces, allowing for access to a wealth of benzylamine-containing 4,16-disubstituted planar chiral [2.2]PCPs with good yields and high to perfect enantioselectivities (up to 89% yield, >99% ee). The ARA-KR of racemic formyl [2.2]PCPs also proceeds smoothly with moderate to good selectivity factors. The diverse late-stage functionalization further highlights the value of current chemistry.

From Calendar Aging to Cycle Degradation: SOC-Dependent Structural and Interfacial Evolution in LiFePO4/Graphite Batteries

Yi Jin, Rui Tang, Qi Shi,* Jinyang Dong, Zhiheng Wang, Yibiao Guan, Yun Lu, Kang Yan, Yun Liu, Ning Li, Qiongqiong Qi, Jiaxin Gao, Lai Chen,* Feng Wu, and Yuefeng Su*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 931—938. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70428

This study investigates the impact of calendar aging conditions on the subsequent cycling performance of lithium-ion batteries. The experiments utilized LiFePO4/graphite (LFP/Gr) pouch cells, which were charged to two states of charge (SOC): 50% and 100%. After storage at 45 °C for 100 d, cycling aging tests were conducted. The results indicate that the pre-storage conditions significantly affect cycling stability: batteries stored at high SOC exhibited more severe capacity degradation and mechanical deterioration, whereas those stored at low SOC maintained better electrochemical reversibility and mechanical stability. Through a multiscale investigation, it was found that high SOC calendar aging induces side reactions at the electrode interface and promotes uneven formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the anode. The structural and chemical damages incurred during the storage process become potential failure sources and manifest during the cycling aging process. This research establishes a statistical correlation framework between calendar aging damage and cycling failure, suggesting that the performance degradation of lithium-ion batteries is not solely attributed to long-term cycling but is also significantly influenced by prior storage conditions. The findings provide important insights for optimizing SOC management and storage strategies to enhance battery lifespan and reliability.

Copper/Photoredox Dual-Catalyzed Stereodivergent Hydrofluoroalkylation of Terminal Alkynes

Zhuo-Jing Feng, Hao-Nan Liu, Ran Guo, Xiaodong Tang,* Jun-An Ma, and Fa-Guang Zhang*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 939—945. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70449

Allylic alcohols serve as highly versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. Despite their utility, catalytic methods for accessing fluoroalkyl allylic alcohols from simple alkynes remain scarce, particularly those enabling stereodivergent synthesis. Herein, we report a copper/photoredox dual-catalyzed hydrofluoroalkylation reaction of terminal alkynes with bromofluoroethanol benzoate reagent. This protocol provides stereodivergent access to (E)- and (Z)-fluoromethyl allylic alcohol derivatives in moderate to good yields. The transformation exhibits broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, proceeds under mild conditions, and employs a readily available fluoromethyl synthon. Mechanistic studies reveal a radical pathway featuring aminoalkyl radical-mediated halogen-atom transfer (XAT), copper-assisted ketyl radical addition to the alkyne, and triplet energy transfer (EnT)-promoted double-bond isomerization as the key steps.

Electronic Distribution Tuning of Passivators Enables High-Efficiency and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Jinxian Yang, Wenjuan Jiang, Haokun Jiang, Mingzhe Zhu, Cheng Peng, Jiakang Zhang, and Zhongmin Zhou*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 946—958. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70431

Interfacial defects and energy level mismatch in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) severely limit their efficiency and stability. Small-molecule passivators show great potential in addressing interfacial issues, but how electronic effects influence the performance of PSCs by modulating the electrostatic potential distribution of the entire molecule and its functional groups remains unclear. Herein, we introduced different benzylamine derivatives and found that they can all react with the formamidinium cation (FA+). Compared to 4-methoxybenzylamine (PMBA) and benzylamine (BA), 4-trifluoromethylbenzylamine (TFMBA) has a lower proton transfer energy barrier, facilitating the formation of TFMBAFA+. Compared to PMBAFA+ and BAFA+, TFMBAFA+ forms stronger hydrogen bonds with I? better stabilizing the perovskite structure; simultaneously, its increased dipole moment promotes energy level alignment and charge carrier extraction. The introduction of the passivators reduced interfacial non-radiative recombination. Finally, TFMBA-modified devices (0.09 cm2) achieved an optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.52%, while large-area devices (active area of 23.4 cm2) also attained a PCE of 20.44%. Under continuous illumination in N? atmosphere for 1300 h and dark storage at 60 °C, the devices retained 83% and 80% of their initial PCE, respectively.

Coupling Catalyst Planarization and Built-in Electric Fields Enhancement by Ringexpansion of Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Boosting Charge Migration in C(sp3)-H Phosphorylation

Tianyu Long, Tao Gao, Guobin Chen, Han-Han Kong, Qing-Qing Yang, Wenli Xu, Shangbin Xiao, Liqun Ye,* and Long Wang*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 959—966. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70430

Minimizing energy dissipation during charge transfer is essential for constructing efficient photocatalysts. However, the inherent steric constraints within building blocks inevitably induce torsional distortions in the photocatalyst framework, thereby impeding efficient charge migration. To address this, catalyst ring expansion was proposed to enhance catalytic performance. Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) were synthesized using [2,2']-bithiophene-5,5'-dicarbaldehyde (donor) and formyl positional isomers (1,3- or 1,4-diacetylbenzene linkers). Structural characterization revealed that compared to m-SSCMP (1,3-linker), p-SSCMP constructed with the 1,4-linker exhibits an expanded cyclic architecture, increased intramolecular D-A configurations and a reduced phenyl-pyridine dihedral angle. These structural modifications significantly accelerated charge migration efficiency. As a result, the optimized catalysts facilitated efficient C(sp3)-H phosphorylation reactions, offering a sustainable strategy for introducing phosphoryl groups into optoelectronic materials andbioactive molecules. Importantly, correlation between monomer structure and catalyst charge migration efficiency was established, providing molecular-level insights for the design of polymeric photocatalysts.

B?N Hyperconjugation Enables Site-Selective C?H Azidation of Alkyl and Benzyl N-Methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) Boronates: Synthesis of α-Azido Boronates

Zhi-Hao Chen, Jiawu Huang, Qi Fan, Qingjiang Li, Biaolin Yin,* and Honggen Wang*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 967—972. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70437

α-Azidoboronates, integrating both azido and boryl groups, are versatile intermediates for accessing α-aminoborons, α-triazolyl-borons, and bioorthogonal ligation handles. However, existing syntheses rely primarily on nucleophilic substitution of pre-function-alized α-haloboronates, which require multistep cryogenic Matteson homologation and involve unstable intermediates as well as hazardous azide reagents. Direct Cα–H azidation of alkyl boronates offers an appealing alternative but remains challenging due to competing radical addition to the sp2-boron center, leading to deborylation. Motivated by the unique stereoelectronic properties of B(MIDA) groups, which can stabilize α-radicals and promote boron-retentive transformations, we envisioned that selective radical C–H azidation of secondary B(MIDA)s could be feasible. Herein, we establish an iron-catalyzed protocol enabling efficient and site-selective Cα–H azidation of secondary MIDA boronates, leveraging σ(B–N) → p(C) hyperconjugation for α-radical stabilization. The protocol furnishes a broad range of α-azidoboronates in a single step. Preliminary studies further demonstrate their compatibility with click chemistry, underscoring their potential utility in functional molecule construction and bioorthogonal applications.

Sustainable Thioester DerivativesSynthesis via TBADT-Photocatalyzed Continuous Hydrogenacylation of Aldehydes and Isothiocyanates

Dan-Na Chen, Di-Jing Luo, Lu-Lu Qin, Fu-Qin Zhang, Yang Wang, Yan Lei, Yi-Xuan Chen,* and Peng-Ju Xia*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 973—978. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70435

Thioesters serve as indispensable pharmacophores and versatile functional building blocks, finding broad utility in pharmaceutical development, prodrug design, and functional material synthesis owing to their unique chemical reactivity, metabolic stability, and target-binding affinity; however, conventional thioester synthesis is plagued by critical limitations: reliance on toxic sulfur precursors, harsh reaction conditions, costly metal catalysts, and environmentally detrimental byproducts—factors impeding large-scale, sustainable manufacturing. Herein, we report a green and efficient protocol for thioester synthesis via TBADT-photocatalyzed sequential continuous hydrogenacylation of aldehydes with isothiocyanates, mechanistic studies showing this transformation proceeds via a radical cascade reaction enabled by photoinduced multi-step Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT) processes: photoexcited TBADT abstracts an aldehydic C–H H-atom to generate acyl radicals, which undergo regioselective addition to isothiocyanates, followed by HAT regeneration to afford thioesters. This protocol features notable advantages: a broad substrate scope encompassing linear/cyclic/branched alkyl aldehydes, electron-rich/deficient aryl isothiocyanates, and heteroaromatic scaffolds; water as a key co-solvent enhances reaction efficiency and sustainability, further by eliminating toxic reagents, external oxidants, and pre-functionalization steps, this work overcomes core challenges in traditional thioester synthesis, establishing a novel and sustainable platform for thioester preparation and functionalization of bioactive molecules—thus advancing green organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Trifluoromethylselenylative Difunctionalization of Arynes with [Me4N][SeCF3]

Hao-Nan Wang, Fu-Yan Xiao, Yu-Wei Rao, and Cheng-Pan Zhang*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 979—986. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70432

A general protocol for the trifluoromethylselenylative difunctionalization of aryne with the nucleophilic [Me4N][SeCF3] reagent is described. The NiCp2-catalyzed cross-couplings of o-silylaryl triflates, [Me4N][SeCF3], and CsF with H2O/CH3CN, D2O/CD3CN, and n-C4F9I or C6F13Br or CCl4 afforded the hydrotrifluoromethylselenylated products, deuterotrifluoromethylselenylated products, and halotrifluoromethylselenylated products, respectively, while the metal-free reaction of o-silylaryl triflates and [Me4N][SeCF3] with NFSI provided the bis(trifluoromethylselenylated) products. These reactions allowed for the facile synthesis of diverse difunctionalized SeCF3 products in good yields, which are unprecedented and difficult to synthesize by other methods. In the Ni-catalyzed reactions, the key aryne intermediate is generated from o-silylaryl triflate in the presence of fluoride ion, coordinates with the nickel catalyst, undergoes ligand exchange with the ?SeCF3 anion, and is inserted into the carbon-carbon triple bond to form an o-trifluoromethylselenylaryl-nickel complex, which is then protonated with H2O/CH3CN to yield the hydrotrifluoromethylselenylated product, deuterated with D2O/CD3CN to produce the deuterotrifluoromethylselenylated product, or halogenated with n-C4F9I, C6F13Br or CCl4 to afford the halotrifluoromethylselenylated product. In the metal-free reaction, the ?SeCF3 anion is first oxidized with NFSI to yield ?SeCF3 radical and fluoride ion, which activates o-silylaryl triflate in situ to form the aryne species, followed by radical addition with ?SeCF3 and subsequent trapping by another ?SeCF3 radical to produce the bis(trifluoromethylselenylated) product. The moisture-sensitive [Me4N][SeCF3] salt was successfully tolerated in the reactions with H2O or D2O. This work further demonstrated the rich chemistry of [Me4N][SeCF3] and the power of aryne-based functionalization as a linchpin step in the production of multi-substituted SeCF3-arenes.

Binuclear Cobalt Complex-Catalyzed Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane and Transfer Hydrogenation of Alkenes, Carbonyls and Nitriles: High Efficiency under Mild Conditions

Yingxue Liao, Shuang Liu, Jiayi Lin, Ke Chen, Jun Tang, Lianghua Zou, Qian Peng,* and Xiaoming Wang*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 987—994. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70448

The development of efficient and sustainable catalytic systems based on earth-abundant metals for hydrogen storage and green organic synthesis represents a significant and urgent challenge. While ammonia borane (AB) is a promising hydrogen carrier, its catalytic dehydrogenation and subsequent transfer hydrogenation have predominantly relied on precious-metal catalysts, and existing cobalt-based systems often lack the combination of ultrahigh activity and broad utility. Addressing this gap, this work introduces a well-defined macrocyclic bispyridyldiimine-supported binuclear cobalt complex that serves as a highly efficient catalyst for both AB dehydrogenation, achieving high H? release and a wide range of AB-mediated transfer hydrogenation reactions under mild conditions. The system demonstrates exceptional performance by facilitating the reduction of diverse substrates—including alkenes, indoles, nitriles, and carbonyl compounds—in high yields. Its unprecedented activity is highlighted by the transfer hydrogenation of olefins at an ultralow catalyst loading of just 0.01 mol%, and its capability to hydrogenate challenging substrates like indoles at room temperature, overcoming the need for traditional harsh conditions. A key mechanistic insight is the distinct bimetallic advantage: the corresponding mononuclear cobalt complex is catalytically inactive under identical conditions, underscoring that the superior activity arises from the synergistic binuclear structure. These findings establish synergistic binuclear cobalt catalysis as a highly active, and sustainable platform for reductive transformations using AB, fundamentally advancing the field of earth-abundant metal catalysis.

Green Chiral-Polar Halide Double Perovskite for Sensitive Self-Driven X-ray Detection

Yalin Tang, Luyao Yan, Haotian Wen, Lina Li,* Junhua Luo, and Zhihua Sun*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 995—1000. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70443

The lead-freemetal halide perovskites (MHPs) haveemerged as prospective, environmentally friendly, and high-performancecandidates for X-ray detection owing to their prominent X-ray absorption capacity andlow toxicity. Nevertheless, the energy consumption caused by high external operational voltages and severe ion migration limit the stability of lead-free MHPs for X-ray detection. Here, through the incorporation of alternating chiral–achiral spacer cations, we synthesized anovel lead-free chiral-polar perovskite, (R-MPA)2(PA)2AgBiBr8 (1R,R-MPA = R-methylphenethylammonium, PA = propylamine). The intrinsic spontaneous electric polarization yields anobvious bulk photovoltage (0.25 V), facilitating the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, which makes self-driven detection possible. Consequently, the 1R-based X-ray detector achieves a high sensitivity (131 μC·Gy?1·cm?2) and a detection limit as low as 62.6 nGy·s?1at 0 V bias. This study indicates the huge potential of chiral-polar lead-free MHPsin realizing superior self-driven X-ray detection, and provides an approach to the designof highly promisingself-driven X-ray detection materials.

Comprehensive Report

Heteroatom-Tailored Benzo[1,2,4]triazine Core: A Promising Building Block for High-Efficiency Non-Fullerene Acceptors

Zihao Deng, Yongwen Lang, Jiaquan Huang, Yunpeng Wang, Hanjian Lai, Mingpeng Li, Meihong Ou, Yuanzhu Zhang, and Feng He*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 1001—1010. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70446

The rapid development of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs), particularly Y6 and its derivatives, has propelled organic photovoltaics (OPVs) to power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 20%. This achievement stems from the rational design of core structures that regulate energy levels, optical absorption, and molecular packing. However, the potential of the 1,2,4-triazine motif remains underexplored despite its unique electronic features. Here, we introduce the benzo[1,2,4]triazine (BTAZI) core as a promising building block for NFAs. Density functional theory calculations reveal that BTAZI possesses lower-lying energy levels than the benzothiadiazole (BT) unit in Y6, arising from its reduced electron density. Through heteroatom substitution (S, O, and Cl), we finely tune the σ-inductive and p-π conjugative effects, yielding three BTAZI-based acceptors: BTAZI-IC-SMe, BTAZI-IC-OMe, and BTAZI-IC-Cl. Among them, BTAZI-IC-SMe achieves an optimal balance between molecular orbital alignment and absorption profile with the donor polymer D18, affording a PCE of 18.14%, surpassing the others. This study highlights the benzo[1,2,4]triazine framework as a new core unit for efficient NFAs and offers valuable insights into the molecular design of high-performance and stable OPVs.

Critical Review

From 2D Primitives to 2D/2D Heterostructures in Capacitive Deionization: A Platform for Versatile Ion Capture

Hao Zhang and Miao Zhang*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 1011—1038. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70374

Access to safe and clean water is fundamental to human health and economic development. While the practical impact of emerging technologies depends on their successful demonstration at large scales, capacitive deionization (CDI) has garnered significant attention as a promising approach for efficient desalination of seawater and brackish water. Among the various 2D materials explored for CDI (e.g., graphene, MXenes, covalent organic frameworks), their derived 2D/2D heterostructures, with unique lamellar morphology and interfacial engineering, offer an ideal platform for effectively modulating charge transfer behavior and ion diffusion. Despite a variety of 2D/2D heterostructures with diverse construction modes have been developed as CDI electrodes in recent years, a dedicated review focusing on the design strategies, synergistic effects, water desalination performance, and prevailing challenges remains lacking. In this review, we highlight the cutting-edge research progress of 2D/2D heterostructures for CDI applications. After an overview of 2D materials and synthetic strategies of 2D/2D heterostructures, the relationships between the morphology/structure/composition and the water desalination performance are discussed in detail. Thereafter, we discuss current limitations and propose future directions for the rational design of 2D/2D heterostructures. This review will promote exploitation of 2D/2D heterostructures with an ideal performance of CDI towards water remediation.

Application of Microdroplets in Chemical Synthesis

Xiajing Wei, Xiaoyu Fan, Songliang Gao, Jinhang Pan, and Kai Yu*

Chin. J. Chem. 2026, 44, 1039—1057. DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.70399

Over the course of the past decade, microdroplet chemistry has rapidly evolved into a transformative field, offering unprecedented opportunities in chemical synthesis by leveraging the distinctive physicochemical properties of gas–liquid interfaces. Water-containing microdroplets exploit unique physicochemical characteristics at the gas-liquid interface, including intense interfacial electric fields, localized concentration effects, partial solvation and droplet evaporation, which collectively enable spontaneous chemical reactions and extraordinary reaction acceleration, achieving rate enhancements of several orders of magnitude compared to conventional bulk-phase systems. The confined microenvironment of microdroplets not only enhances mass transfer and molecular collision frequencies but also stabilizes reactive intermediates, facilitating reaction pathways that are otherwise kinetically or thermodynamically constrained.This review begins with a summary of key methods for microdroplet generation, including electrospray ionization, gas nebulization, ultrasonic atomization, levitation techniques, and adiabatic expansion, highlighting how these techniques influence the key characteristics and reactivity of microdroplets. The discussion then advances to the application of these unique properties of microdroplets in diverse chemical synthesis reactions, including redox chemistry, coupling reactions, abiotic synthesis of biomolecules and quasi-electrochemical reactions. The enhanced reaction performance observed in these systems stems from the synergistic contributions of enhanced mass transfer, localized concentration enrichment, interfacial electric fields, and droplet evaporation. Furthermore, the ability of microdroplets to stabilize reactive intermediates under mild conditions enables green synthesis approaches, significantly reducing the reliance on hazardous reagents, metal catalysts, and energy-intensive processes. Despite their enormous potential, microdroplets continue to face challenges related to scalability and process control. Ongoing advances in reactor design, thin-film deposition, solvent recycling, and computational modeling are steadily addressing these limitations. By bridging fundamental research with practical applications, microdroplets chemistry presents its unique value for green synthesis and sustainable chemical production, offering innovative solutions to global challenges across chemistry and related disciplines.