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Progress in Chemistry

Abbreviation (ISO4): Prog Chem      Editor in chief: Jincai ZHAO

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  • Chemistry: A Century of Life-Special Edition
    Yuan-Zheng Cheng, Muzi Li, Rui-Xiang Wang, Long-Hao Zhu, Wen-Jie Shen, Xin-Xuan Zou, Qing Gu, Shu-Li You
    Prog Chem. 2024, 36(12): 1785-1829. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC241203
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    Representing an important class of ubiquitous chemical feedstock, aromatics have been extensively utilized in the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reactions, nitration reactions, Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions, cross-coupling reactions, C-H bond functionalization reactions etc. Dearomatization reaction is another type of transformations of aromatics, in which their aromaticity is destroyed or reduced. Since its first report, dearomatization reaction has served as an efficient platform to create C(sp3)-H-rich spiro, fused and bridged polycyclic structures, widely applied in material and medicinal chemistry. In the past two decades, various dearomatization reactions have been established by using transition-metal catalysis, organocatalysis, enzymatic catalysis, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis. Diverse polycyclic structures have been obtained by the dearomatization of indoles, pyrroles, (benzo)furans, (benzo)thiophenes, quinolines, pyridines, benzenes, naphthalenes, etc. The coupling reagents, including nucleophiles, electrophiles, dipoles, radicals, and carbenes have been developed to assemble different functional groups on dearomative framework. In this review, we briefly summarized the developed dearomatization reactions, which were categorized by the kinds of aromatic compounds. The remaining challenges and perspectives on the future development of dearomatization reactions are also included here.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Indoles and pyrroles

    2.1 Hydrogenation reactions

    2.2 Oxidative dearomatization reactions

    2.3 Dearomatization reactions with electrophiles

    2.4 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    2.5 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    3 Benzofurans and furans

    3.1 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    3.2 Dearomatization reactions with electrophiles

    3.3 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    3.4 Cycloaddition dearomatization reactions

    4 Benzothiophenes and thiophenes

    4.1 Hydrogenation reactions

    4.2 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    4.3 Dearomatization reactions with electrophiles

    4.4 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    4.5 Cycloaddition dearomatization reactions

    4.6 Ring expansion dearomatization reactions

    4.7 Dearomatization reactions with carbenes

    5 Phenols and naphthols

    5.1 Hydrogenation reactions

    5.2 Oxidative dearomatization reactions

    5.3 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    5.4 Dearomatization reactions with electrophiles

    5.5 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    5.6 Dearomatization reactions based on η2 or η6 complex

    6 Anilines

    6.1 Catalytic hydrogenation reactions

    6.2 Oxidative dearomatization reactions

    6.3 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    6.4 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    6.5 Dearomatization reactions based on η2 complex

    7 Pyridines and (iso)quinolines

    7.1 Hydrogenation reactions

    7.2 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    7.3 Dearomatization reactions with electrophiles

    7.4 Dearomatization reactions with dipoles

    7.5 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    8 Benzenes and naphthalenes

    8.1 Hydrogenation reactions

    8.2 Oxidative dearomatization reactions

    8.3 Dearomatization reactions with nucleophiles

    8.4 Dearomatization reactions with electrophiles

    8.5 Dearomatization reactions with radicals

    8.6 Cycloaddition dearomatization reactions

    8.7 Dearomatization reactions with carbenes

    8.8 Rearrangement dearomatization reactions

    9 Other arenes

    10 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Haozhe Zhang, Wenlong Xu, Fansheng Meng, Qiang Zhao, Yingyun Qiao, Yuanyu Tian
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(2): 226-234. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240512
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    Plastic products represented by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have become an important part of modern life and global economy. In order to solve the resource waste and environmental problems caused by PET waste and to realize high-value recycling of materials, there is an urgent need to explore low-cost green and efficient conversion and recycling methods. Chemical depolymerization can deal with low-value, mixed, and contaminated plastics, recover polymer monomers through different chemical reactions or chemically upgrade and recycle to produce new high value-added products, realizing the closed-loop recycling of plastic waste and high value-added applications, which is a key way to establish a circular polymer economy. This paper reviews the latest research progress of chemical depolymerization process of PET waste, analyzes the problems of chemical depolymerization technology of PET waste, and looks forward to the future development trend of chemical depolymerization process of PET waste.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Chemical recovery methods

    2.1 Hydrolysis

    2.2 Alcoholysis

    2.3 Ammonolysis and aminolysis

    2.4 Supercritical depolymerization

    3 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Zuyi Huang, Xueqiang Tan, Jimin Zheng
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(2): 185-194. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240202
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    Bifunctional small molecules are a sort of small molecules that engage multiple targets. They are subdivided into two categories: bifunctional small molecules with linkers and without linkers. Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a currently emerging strategy hijacking cellular protein degradation systems, namely ubiquitin-proteasomal system and lysosomal system, to induce the degradation of targeted protein for drug development. Distinct from the traditional mechanism of action based on inhibition, TPD inhibits the function of targeted protein through targeted clearance, thus is advantageous in long-term inhibition and targeting undruggable proteins. With a unique mechanism of action, bifunctional small molecules are capable of binding degradation-associated protein and targeted protein simultaneously, and therefore used widely in the realm of TPD. This review summarizes the recent development of bifunctional molecules in TPD. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), molecular degraders of extracellular proteins through the asialoglycoprotein receptors (MoDE-As), and autophagy targeting chimeras (AUTACs) which based on bifunctional small molecules with linkers, and molecular glue degraders (MGDs) and autophagosome-tethering compounds (ATTECs) which based on bifunctional small molecules without linkers are introduced, with their clinical application highlighted. Finally, the challenges that the two categories of bifunctional small molecules respectively face in the realm of TPD as well as prospects and suggestions for their development are proposed.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Bifunctional small molecules with linkers for TPD

    2.1 PROTACs

    2.2 AUTACs

    2.3 MoDE-As

    2.4 Challenges for bifunctional small molecules with linkers in TPD

    3 Bifunctional small molecules with linkers for TPD

    3.1 MGDs

    3.2 ATTECs

    3.3 Rational design strategy for bifunctional small molecules without linkers

    4 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Yanhong Liu, Dongju Zhang
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(2): 281-292. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240411

    The visible-light-driven copper-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction of carboxylic acids and their derivatives is a novel, efficient, and green synthetic method. It allows the construction of various carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds for the synthesis of a wide range of high-value-added chemicals, making it a hot topic in the field of modern synthetic chemistry. In recent years, researchers worldwide have conducted extensive studies in this area, achieving a series of innovative results that have been widely applied in organic synthesis, materials science, and medicinal chemistry. This paper reviews the latest experimental and theoretical advances in the visible-light-driven copper-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions of carboxylic acids and their derivatives, with a focus on several typical cross-coupling reactions that form C—X (X = C, N, O, S) bonds. It also discusses the future development prospects of this catalytic method.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Mechanism of photocatalyst and copper complex co-catalysis

    3 Photocatalyst and copper complex co-catalyzed carboxylic acid (ester) decarboxylative coupling reactions

    3.1 C—C coupling

    3.2 C—N coupling

    3.3 C—O coupling

    3.4 C—S coupling

    4 Conclusion and outlook

  • Microplastics Special Issue
    Hang Liu, Yu Su, Yutao Cheng, Ziyang Lou, Cheng Peng, Jie Wang, Yanhua Wang, Lei Wang, Rong Ji
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(1): 32-45. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240712
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    Microplastic pollution arising from the aging and decomposition of plastic waste poses a significant challenge to global plastic pollution control. Landfills have been the primary disposal sites for solid waste for a long time, and the considerable amount of plastic waste accumulated in landfills has emerged as a crucial source of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems. This paper mainly reviews the development of plastic waste landfilling and its evolution in the landfilling process, analyzes the external input and internal generation process of microplastics in landfills, and summarizes the abundance and structural composition characteristics of microplastics reported in the landfill piles (580-168 000 items/kg) and leachate (420-291 000 items/m3) and the surrounding soils (4-14 200 items/kg) and groundwater (3000-27 200 items/m3). This paper further reveals the migration of microplastics within the waste-soil-groundwater system, and the exposure routes of humans to microplastics through the contaminated soil, air, and edible plants. As the risks and control measures to the entire environmental process of microplastics in landfills urgently require investigation, this paper puts forward key scientific and technical issues and management suggestions.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Distribution and lifecycle of landfills

    2.1 Development and distribution of landfills

    2.2 Full lifecycle of landfills

    3 Sources and evolution of plastics in landfills

    3.1 Primary sources of landfill plastic waste

    3.2 Fragmentation of landfilled plastic waste

    4 Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in landfills

    4.1 Microplastics in waste piles

    4.2 Microplastics in leachates

    5 Migration and impacts of microplastics in landfills

    5.1 Microplastic spread to the environment

    5.2 Microplastic transfer to plants

    6 Perspectives

  • Microplastics Special Issue
    Kefu Ye, Minjie Xie, Xingqi Chen, Zhiyu Zhu, Shixiang Gao
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(1): 2-15. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240710
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    This review highlights the advantages and research advancements of Raman spectroscopy in detecting micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. With the worsening issue of microplastic pollution, particularly its widespread presence in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a non-destructive, high-resolution analytical technique widely employed for identifying and quantitatively analyzing micro- and nanoplastics. This is attributed to its unique spectral characteristics and reduced susceptibility to water interference compared to infrared spectroscopy. The strengths of Raman spectroscopy in detecting micro- and nanoplastics lie in its high spatial resolution, broad spectral range, and exceptional sensitivity. However, challenges such as fluorescence interference and low signal-to-noise ratios persist in the detection process. To enhance Raman signals, researchers have introduced various approaches, including sample pretreatment, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy techniques. Furthermore, this paper underscores the necessity of building a comprehensive Raman spectroscopy database to boost detection accuracy and efficiency. Future research directions include developing more effective preprocessing methods, dynamically monitoring the behavior of micro- and nanoplastics, and integrating intelligent detection systems.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Raman spectroscopy methods for micro-and nanoplastics

    2.1 Basic principles and conventional Raman spectroscopy

    2.2 Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

    2.3 Coherent Raman spectroscopy (CRS)

    2.4 Raman imaging

    3 Identification in environmental samples with Raman spectroscopy

    3.1 Fluorescence interference and its elimination

    3.2 Machine learning applications with Raman spectral databases

    4 Quantitative Analysis

    4.1 In situ concentration and mass concentration

    4.2 Number concentration via µ-Raman and imaging

    5 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Kaichong Wang, Han Wang, Yayi Wang
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(2): 157-172. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240501
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    Solar energy is the energy source for all life on Earth, and its efficient conversion is of great significance for solving the global energy crises and environmental issues. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, researchers have recently developed whole-cell biohybrids based on semiconductors and microorganisms by integrating the excellent light absorption ability of photosensitizer semiconductors and the efficient biocatalysis ability of whole-cell microbes. The development of whole-cell biohybrids aims to realize efficient solar-to-chemical production in a green and low-carbon pathway. This review clarifies the operation principle and advantages of whole-cell biohybrids, and the properties of photosensitizer semiconductors are summarized, including the band structure, excitation wavelength and quantum yield. Moreover, this work innovatively concludes the construction mechanisms of whole-cell biohybrids and the electron transfer mechanisms in the interface between semiconductor and microbe. Moreover, the advanced progress of whole-cell biohybrids are reviewed, such as the high-value conversion of carbon dioxide, artificial nitrogen fixation, hydrogen production as well as pollutant removal and recovery. Finally, the environmental impacts and challenges of whole-cell biohybrids are discussed and the perspectives for the development of whole-cell biohybrids are proposed. This article is expected to provide fundamental insights for the further development and actual application of whole-cell biohybrids.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Principles and advantages of whole-cell biohybrids

    3 Types of photosensitizers in whole-cell biohybrids

    3.1 Inorganic semiconductors

    3.2 Organic semiconductors

    4 Construction mechanisms of whole-cell biohybrids

    5 Advanced application progresses of whole-cell biohybrids

    5.1 High-value conversion of CO2

    5.2 Artificial nitrogen fixation

    5.3 Hydrogen production

    5.4 Pollutants removal and resource recovery

    6 The environmental impacts and challenges in whole-cell biohybrids

    7 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Zaiyang Zheng, Huibin Sun, Wei Huang
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(3): 295-316. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240516

    Nowadays stretchable electronic devices have become a hot research topic in the field of information electronics because of their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. As the high-speed electron transmission channel in stretching electronic devices, stretchable conductive materials play a crucial role in realizing the functions of stretching electronic devices. Liquid metal has become a hot research object in the field of stretchable conductive composites in recent years because of its intrinsic flexibility and excellent conductivity. Liquid metal is a room temperature liquid conductive material, which exhibits excellent stretchability and tunability due to its inherent high conductivity, fluidity, and ductility. Liquid metal-based stretchable conductive composites preparation and patterning techniques have been reported and many stretchable devices with excellent combination of mechanical and electrical properties have been prepared. In view of the general structural characteristics of liquid metal-based stretchable composites, the key to the preparation is how to solve the interfacial non-impregnation problem caused by the physical property differences between different materials. Therefore, starting from the common types of composites, this paper firstly briefly introduces the components and physical properties of liquid metals generally used, as well as the stretchable polymer matrix materials usually employed. Then, the composite methods of conductive materials and elastomer materials in liquid metal-based electrodes are reviewed from the two ways of "passive" and "active" to deal with the problem of non-wetting at the interface, as well as the blending and dispersion method and the new modification method. Finally, the latest research progress is introduced, and the current status of liquid metal research is summarized. Future development and potential problems to be faced are also discussed.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Liquid metal-based flexible device material composition

    2.1 Liquid metal and its composite materials

    2.2 Flexible substrate material

    3 Preparation method of liquid metal-based flexible conductive composites

    3.1 Passive internal embedding method

    3.2 Active surface structure modification method

    3.3 Direct blending composite method

    3.4 New methods for the preparation and patterning of liquid metal electrodes

    4 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Qing Wang, Peng Li, Dawei Wu, Lu Jiang, Xinrui Fang, Haitao Niu, Hua Zhou
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(2): 255-280. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240415

    The exceptional waterproof and oil-repellent properties of fluorides, attributed to their remarkably low surface energy, have rendered them extensively employed in the realm of functional finishing. However, the use of fluorine presents potential hazards to human health and engenders irreversible harm to the environment. Consequently, it is progressively being regulated by nations, and discovering alternatives without fluorine has emerged as an imperative concern that necessitates immediate attention in the fields of waterproofing and anti-fouling. To clarify the definition of the fluorine-free materials with oil-repellent property and explore their potential applications in the field of chemistry, the research background of fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property was described, along with a comprehensive review and evaluation of recent achievements and preparation methods. Furthermore, the mechanism of fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property was analyzed, and the application status of fluorine-free coating with oil-repellent property in textiles, construction, food, liquid treatment and other fields was summarized. Additionally, an analysis of the current challenges in ongoing research process of fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property was provided. Finally, a prospective outlook on the future of green and environmentally-friendly fluorine-free surface technology was prospected.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Properties and characteristics of fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property

    3 Preparation strategy of fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property

    3.1 Solid fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property

    3.2 Liquid fluorine-free surfaces with oil-repellent property

    3.3 “Liquid-like” fluorine-free surfaces with oil- repellent property

    4 Application of fluorine-free surfaces with oil- repellent property

    5 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Yaqing Hu, Kunyu Xu, Haoling Yang, Fengfan Zhang, Zihao Yang, Zhaoxia Dong
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(3): 332-350. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240505

    Taking into account environmental concerns and the ongoing shift towards clean energy, converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethylene (C2H4) through electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECO2RR) using renewable electricity is a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for achieving carbon neutrality while also providing economic benefits. Despite significant advancements in the field, issues such as low selectivity, activity and stability continue to persist. This paper presents a review of recent research progress in copper-based catalytic systems for ECO2RR in the production of ethylene. Firstly, the mechanism of ECO2RR is briefly summarized. It then highlights various catalyst design strategies for ethylene production, such as tandem catalysis, crystal surface modulation, surface modification, valence influence, size sizing, defect engineering, and morphology design. Finally, the paper discusses future challenges and prospects for the synthesis of ethylene through electrocatalytic CO2 reduction.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 CO2 electroreduction mechanisms on Cu catalysts

    2.1 The adsorption and activation of CO2

    2.2 The formation of *CO intermediates

    2.3 C-C coupling

    3 Key performance parameter

    4 Catalyst design strategies

    4.1 Tandem catalysis

    4.2 Facet exposure

    4.3 Surface modification

    4.4 Valence state

    4.5 Size control

    4.6 Defects engineering

    4.7 Morphology design

    5 Conclusion and prospect

  • Review
    Aoqi Su, Xinyu Li, Ran Wang, Lili Gao, Tifeng Jiao
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(2): 133-156. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240417

    In the realm of two-dimensional nanomaterials, black phosphorus (BP) is considered a promising candidate to address the shortcomings of graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Low- dimensional black phosphorus (BP) refers to a class of nanomaterials derived from the layered semiconductor BP. These materials exhibit high structural anisotropy, tunable bandgap widths, and high hole and electron mobility, endowing BP with unique properties such as conductivity, photothermal, photodynamic, and mechanical behaviors. BP's near-infrared light response significantly enhances its effectiveness in photothermal and photodynamic antibacterial applications. Additionally, due to its unique layered structure, BP nanosheets (BPNS) possess a high surface-to-volume ratio, making them excellent carriers for loading and delivering other antimicrobial nanomaterials or drugs. First, this article discusses the physical properties of low-dimensional BP and introduces various preparation methods. Furthermore, it systematically reviews exciting therapeutic applications of polymer-modified black phosphorus nanomaterials in various fields, such as cancer treatment (phototherapy, drug delivery, and synergistic immunotherapy), bone regeneration, and neurogenesis. Finally, the paper discusses some challenges facing future clinical trials and potential directions for further research.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Preparation methods of BPNs

    2.1 Mechanical exfoliation

    2.2 Ultrasonication-assisted liquid exfoliation

    2.3 Electrochemical exfoliation

    2.4 Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)

    2.5 Hydro/solvothermal synthesis

    3 Structure and properties of BPNs

    3.1 Structure of BPNs

    3.2 Properties of BPNs

    4 Biomedical application

    4.1 Disease diagnosis

    4.2 Therapeutic strategies

    5 Conclusion and outlook

  • Microplastics Special Issue
    Hongqin Guo, Kai Yang, Li Cui
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(1): 112-123. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240706
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    CSCD(1)

    Due to the highly stable chemical properties of plastics, plastic wastes disposed into environments are difficult to degrade and can only be broken down into microplastics with smaller particle size and larger surface area through the weathering process. Microplastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. There is an urgent need to reduce microplastic pollution in order to protect the ecological and human health. Biodegradation of microplastics can ultimately convert microplastics into environmentally friendly substances such as biomass, CO2, CH4 and H2O or other valuable intermediates. It is thus an environmentally friendly technology to potentially make microplastics harmless and resourceful. This paper reviews the present understanding of microplastics biodegradation processes, the influencing factors, the microbial and enzymatic resources for microplastics degradation, and the up-to-date approaches for mining plastics-degrading microbial resources. It finally provides perspectives on the challenges of current research and the direction of future research on microplastic biodegradation.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Microplastic biodegradation process

    2.1 Degradation pathway

    2.2 Influence factors

    3 Microplastic biodegradation resources

    3.1 Degrading bacteria

    3.2 Catabolic enzymes

    3.3 Synthetic community

    4 Mining strategies for microplastics-degrading microorganisms

    4.1 Culture-dependent methods

    4.2 Culture-independent methods

    5 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Weilong Qin, Ruiyuan Sun, Muhammad Bilal Akbar, Yang Zhou, Yongbo Kuang
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(3): 425-438. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240414

    Solar photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting holds significant importance for the development of sustainable green energy. With ongoing research, the BiVO4 photoanode, a core component of PEC systems, faces challenges in scaling up and maintaining long-term stability. The superiority of fully conformal coating strategies lies in their lack of substrate size constraints, ability to suppress photo-corrosion of the BiVO4 semiconductor, creation of multifunctional interfaces, and potential synergistic action with heterojunctions and promoter catalysts, which may facilitate the stable operation of large-scale PEC water splitting devices for over 1000 hours. This review briefly introduces the basic principles of PEC water splitting and the development status of representative devices, elaborates on the important concept and main design principles of fully conformal coatings aimed at large-scale photoanodes, summarizes recent advances in materials capable of achieving fully conformal deposition coatings, including molecular catalysts, metal oxides/hydroxides, carbonized/sulfurized/phosphorized materials, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and discusses key characteristics of fully conformal coatings with greater development potential. Finally, it presents a prospective view on future trends in fully conformal coatings for BiVO4 photoanodes.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Fundamentals of PEC water splitting and develop- ment status of PEC device

    3 Basic principles of fully conformal coating strategy

    3.1 Fully conformal coating and its importance

    3.2 Primary design principles of fully conformal coating

    4 Recent progress of fully conformal coating strategy

    4.1 Molecular catalyst

    4.2 Metal oxides/hydroxides

    4.3 Carbide/Sulfide/Phosphide

    4.4 Metal-organic framework

    5 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Zhiqiang Zhang, Haichao Li, Ying Long
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(6): 918-933. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240803
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    Hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite (HOCl/ClO-) are important participants in various physiological and pathological processes in the organisms. Both contribute immune defense throughinflammatory responses, but their overproduction and generation at inappropriate sites will result in oxidative damage of cell membranes, DNA, and proteins. Therefore, in view of the important physiopathological significance of HOCl/ClO-, its specific identification and detection have been an important research topic for researchers. Fluorescence and fluorescent probe methods stand out among many traditional detection methods due to their many advantages. In this paper, some representative research works on HOCl/ClO- specific fluorescent probes for organic small molecules are reviewed from the first case to the present day, categorized according to the recognition mechanisms between fluorescent probes and HOCl/ClO-. The recognition mechanisms and biological applications of HOCl/ClO- specific fluorescent probes are highlighted, and the prospects for the chemical and biological development of HOCl/ClO- specific fluorescent probes are discussed.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Oxidation reaction mechanism

    2.1 Oxidation of phenol/aniline analogs

    2.2 Oxidation of oximes

    2.3 Oxidation of pyrroles

    2.4 Oxidation of dibenzoylhydrazines

    2.5 Sulphur/selenium ether/ester oxidation

    3 Electrophilic chlorination reaction mechanism

    4 HOCl-mediated cyclization mechanisms

    5 Cleavage reaction mechanism based on C=C/C=N bonds

    6 Deprotection mechanism based on dimethyl thiocarbamate

    6.1 Based on the BODIPY fluorophore

    6.2 Based on the coumarin fluorophore

    6.3 Based on the naphthalene fluorophore

    6.4 HBT derivatives as fluorophores

    6.5 Based on the resorufin fluorophore

    6.6 Based on the cyano fragment fluorophore

    6.7 Based on the hemicyanine xanthene and cyanine fluorophores

    7 Deprotection mechanisms based on oxathiolones/dithiolones

    8 Mechanism of desulfurization reactions based on C=S bonds

    9 Based on other reaction mechanisms

    10 Conclusion and outlook

  • Microplastics Special Issue
    Yongfeng Deng, Ailin Zhao, Changzhi Shi, Ao Guo, Ruqin Shen, Mingliang Fang
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(1): 59-75. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240904

    The global concern over white pollution and microplastic contamination caused by traditional non-degradable plastic waste has garnered widespread attention. Promoting biodegradable plastics (BPs) as alternatives to non-degradable plastics is a strategic approach to mitigating these forms of plastic pollution. However, under real-world environmental conditions, BPs often face challenges in achieving rapid degradation and may release significant quantities of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) during the degradation process, posing potential environmental and health risks. In this review, we critically examine the environmental risks associated with traditional non-degradable plastic waste and the use of BPs. We systematically evaluate current pre-treatment techniques, analytical methods, and occurrence patterns of BMPs in environmental and biological samples. Furthermore, we highlight recent advancements in understanding the potential impacts of BMPs on organisms across various trophic levels, including human health. Finally, we address the challenges in applying BPs, particularly in identifying, analyzing, assessing health impacts, and developing future regulatory standards and measures for BMPs. This review provides theoretical foundations and technical guidance for advancing environmentally friendly and safe BPs.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    1.1 The importance of plastics in modern human social life and production

    1.2 Ecological and environmental risks associated with the use of traditional refractory plastics

    1.3 Production, application status, and potential risks of emerging degradable plastics

    2 Analytical methods and environmental occurrence of degradable plastics

    2.1 Methods for analyzing biodegradable microplastics

    2.2 Environmental occurrence of degradable plastics

    3 Research progress on potential environmental and health risks of biodegradable plastics

    3.1 Potential ecological and environmental risks of degradable plastics

    3.2 Potential health risks of biodegradable plastics

    4 Conclusion and outlook

    4.1 Insufficient public awareness of BPs and BMPs

    4.2 Suitable for BMPs extraction and detection method vacancy

    4.3 The long-term migration and transformation of BMPs in vivo and its health risks need to be clarified

    4.4 Bioplastics and BMPs management and control methods and governance standards are missing

  • Review
    Shuxian Zhang, Kang Jin
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(5): 649-669. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240613

    In recent decades,along with the improvement of peptide synthetic strategies,the development about bicyclic peptides have been accelerated vigorously,and as a result,more and more bicyclic peptide compounds have entered the clinical trial stage. Through high-throughput screening of peptide compound libraries,the efficiency of obtaining target structures has been greatly increased,further promoting the development of the bicyclic peptide field. Compared with linear and monocyclic peptides,bicyclic peptides have much larger structures and greater structural rigidity,which results in higher affinity and selectivity of the binding to their targets. The absence of terminally free amine and carboxyl groups can also increase the stability of bicyclic peptides against proteolytic enzymes significantly. In addition,the facility of bicyclic peptides to cross cell membranes contributes the improved bioavailability. With the sustainable development and wide application of synthetic technologies,more and more potential bicyclic peptides have been developed successively,laying the foundation for the researches of bicyclic peptide drugs. However,in terms of druggability,there are still many limitations in solubility,conformational stability and in vivo activity,which are urgently need to be solved by means of pharmaceutical preparation and chemically structural modification. This review mainly focuses on the chemical preparation strategies of bicyclic peptides and their applications in drug discovery in recent years.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Introduction of bicyclic peptides

    2.1 Structural characteristics

    2.2 Natural bicyclic peptide

    3 Synthesis of bicyclic peptides

    4 Construction of bicyclic peptide libraries

    4.1 Chemical construction of bicyclic peptide libraries

    4.2 Biological construction of bicyclic peptide libraries

    5 Applications of bicyclic peptides

    5.1 Bicyclic peptide coupling(targeted delivery)

    5.2 PPIs

    5.3 Enzyme inhibitors/agonists

    5.4 Receptor Inhibitors

    5.5 Antimicrobial bicyclic peptides

    5.6 Imaging and contrast

    6 Outlook and discussion

  • Review
    Jiansong Liu, Guida Pan, Feng Zhang, Wei Gao, Juntao Tang, Guipeng Yu
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(5): 686-697. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240705
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    In recent years,covalent organic frameworks(COFs)have emerged as focal points in the research of membrane materials. Distinguished by their distinctive porous structures and structural versatility,COFs offer a promising avenue for advancement in membrane applications compared to conventional polymeric materials. This article delves into diverse interfacial systems,systematically detailing the methodologies for fabricating high-performance COF membranes via interfacial polymerization. The mechanisms underlying membrane formation across various interfacial systems and the strategies for precisely controlling the membrane structure will be elucidated. Furthermore,the intricate relationship between the membrane structure and application performance will be summarized. The challenges and perspectives in this field will be highlighted in the last part of this review.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Gas/liquid interface polymerization

    2.1 Langmuir-Blodgett method

    2.2 Surfactant-mediated

    3 Liquid/liquid interface polymerization

    3.1 Regulation of the system

    3.2 Additive-mediated

    3.3 Optimizing synthetic conditions

    4 Liquid/solid interface polymerization

    5 Solid/gas interface polymerization

    6 Applications of COF membrane

    6.1 Water resource treatment

    6.2 Gas separation and storage

    6.3 Membrane catalysis

    6.4 Electric device

    7 Conclusion and outlook

  • Microplastics Special Issue
    Mianmo Li, Minghao Sui
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(1): 124-132. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240617

    As public concern regarding the safety of drinking water continues growing, microplastics and antibiotics have emerged as new contaminants of interest within the field of water treatment. Microplastics and antibiotics not only pollute aquatic environments and endanger both aquatic life and human health, but their coexistence in water can also lead to physical and chemical interactions, such as adsorption. These interactions are influenced by various factors, including the morphology, functional groups, and aging degree of microplastics, as well as the pH, temperature, salinity, heavy metal ions, and organic macromolecules in the water. The resulting microplastic-antibiotic complex pollutants exhibit greater toxicity and are more challenging to remove. This review discusses the hazards of microplastics and antibiotics in water, their interaction mechanisms, and influencing factors. It also highlights the removal characteristics of complex pollutants using two typical water treatment technologies: coagulation and advanced oxidation. The principles and degradation effects of these treatment processes are analyzed in detail.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Hazards of microplastic-antibiotic composite pollutants

    3 Mechanisms of interaction between microplastics and antibiotics

    4 Factors influencing the interaction between micro- plastics and antibiotics

    5 Coagulation removal of microplastic-antibiotic composite pollution

    6 Advanced oxidation degradation of microplastic- antibiotic composite pollution

    7 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Xiushuang Jiang, Junming Wang, Hongzhi Liu
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(5): 724-742. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240612

    With the improvement of living standard and heightened awareness of environmental protection,renewable and environmentally friendly cellulose materials have attracted much attention in the field of daytime radiative cooling due to their high mid-infrared emissivity and the advantages of tunability of hierarchical structure. In this review,the classification,advantages/disadvantages of radiative cooling materials,the principles of radiative cooling,and the factors influencing their performance are introduced. The classification,state of the art as well as radiative cooling properties of cellulose-based daytime radiative cooling materials are elaborated. The recent progress in the four main application areas including building thermal management,personal thermal management,photovoltaics and low-temperature storage/transportation are summarized. Finally,the existing challenges in the current research are discussed and the future development in this field is also envisaged.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Radiative cooling

    2.1 Principles

    2.2 Influencing factors

    3 Cellulose-based daytime radiative cooling materials and classification

    3.1 Natural cellulose-based materials

    3.2 Cellulose derivatives-based materials

    3.3 Bacterial cellulose-based materials

    4 Application fields

    4.1 Building thermal management

    4.2 Personal thermal management

    4.3 Photovoltaics

    4.4 Low-temperature storage/transportation

    5 Conclusion and outlook

  • Review
    Xin Chen, Jingzhao Wang, Xiangming Cui, Mi Zhou, Jianan Wang, Wei Yan
    Prog Chem. 2025, 37(5): 758-774. https://doi.org/10.7536/PC240713

    Li-S batteries have great application prospects because of their extremely high capacity and energy density. However,the instability and insulation of polysulfides(LiPSs)seriously hinder their further application. In order to solve the problem of slow reaction kinetics in Li-S batteries,it is urgent to explore efficient catalysts to accelerate the sulfur redox. In the case,transition metals with unique and excellent catalytic properties are considered as potential catalysts for Li-S battery. However,differences in the structure and properties of transition metals will lead to different catalytic mechanisms. Therefore,this work divides five types of transition metals(ferrous metals,conventional non-ferrous metals,precious metals,rare refractory metals,and rare earth metals)based on metal characteristics. Then,the catalytic mechanisms of transition metal catalysts were analyzed,including adsorption,accelerating electron transfer,reducing activation energy and co-catalysis. Besides,the research progress of various metals used in Li-S batteries was reviewed,and the catalytic mechanisms of different types of metals were clarified. Four optimization strategies were proposed: nanostructured design,doping-modification,alloying and external cladding,in order to provide certain references for the design of Li-S battery catalysts.

    Contents

    1 Introduction

    2 Catalytic mechanism and functionality of transition metal catalysts

    2.1 Catalytic mechanism

    2.2 Functionality

    3 The application of transition metals in lithium sulfur batteries

    3.1 Ferrous metal

    3.2 Non-ferrous metal

    3.3 Noble metal

    3.4 Rare refractory metal

    3.5 Rare earth metal

    4 Challenges and optimization strategies of transition metal catalysts

    5 Conclusion and outlook

ISSN 1005-281X (Print)
Started from 1989

Published by: Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)