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The authors reconcile the conflict between polarization and hysteresis by confining polarization response of non-polar nanoclusters in high-entropy relaxors, thus improving the energy storage properties of multilayer ceramic capacitors.

Paired electrolysis converts industrial SO₂ directly into valuable cyclic sulfite esters, turning a common pollutant into useful chemicals. Mechanistic studies reveal key intermediates, offering a sustainable and versatile platform for green organosulfur synthesis and pollutant valorization.

Organocopper species are widely used in synthetic chemistry. Here the authors study the structure of the anionic complex formed from copper salts and lithium halides, showing it to be a key intermediate in the formation of organocuprates, and also show that Cu(II) precursors can form Gilman reagents.

Phenolic compounds have long captivated the interest of organic synthesis, particularly in their quest for selective hydroxylation of arenes using H₂O as a hydroxyl source but the inherent high reactivity and low redox potential of phenols often lead to undesirable overoxidation byproducts. Here the authors develop an electrophotochemical approach, finetuning substrate oxidative potential and enabling para-selective hydroxylation of anilides.

Cross coupling via the activation of two carbon-hydrogen bonds avoids the need for organometallic coupling partners and associated waste. Here, the authors report a radical process that allows selective coupling between alkynes and non-activated C(sp³)-H groups via a multimetallic catalytic system.

The difunctionalization of diazo compounds, traditionally with one nucleophile and one electrophile, is a powerful strategy. Here, the authors develop a path of electrochemical oxidative difunctionalization of diazo compounds with two different nucleophiles.

Functionalization of unactivated C–H bonds is an attractive strategy to introduce functionality without the need for pre-functionalized starting materials. Here the authors combine cobalt catalysis with photoredox catalysis, allowing arene-azole cross-coupling under oxidant-free conditions.

Oxidative carbonylation using CO/O₂ is an attractive strategy to construct carbonyl compounds, but the explosive limit of the gas mixture hampers its application. Now, this safety issue is overcome in the aminocarbonylation of alkynes by replacing the external oxidant O₂ by electrochemistry facilitating a mild and safe reaction.

Alcohol oxidation to carbonyl compounds is a very useful functional group transformation in organic synthesis. Here, the authors perform the direct electrochemical oxidation of various alcohols to the corresponding ketones in a continuous-flow reactor without external oxidants, base or mediators.

In a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase 2 trial, neoadjuvant chemoradiation with PD-1 blockade elicited a pathological complete response rate superior to that with neoadjuvant chemoradiation alone in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

The dehydrogenative C-H/N-H cross-coupling serves to install nitrogen functionalities into arenes with the highest atom economy. Here, the authors report an electrochemical cross-coupling between aromatics and sulfonimides through an N-radical addition pathway under oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions.

Simultaneous functionalization of reactive and inert remote sites presents a powerful approach to access complex molecules, yet it is hindered by precise remote C(sp³)–H activation. Now, the accurate translocation of functional groups and remote C–H desaturation has been achieved in parallel through combining functional group migration and cobalt-promoted hydrogen atom transfer.

Ligands and additives are often utilized to stabilize low-valent catalytic metal species experimentally, while their role in suppressing metal deposition has been less studied. Here, the authors report an on-cycle mechanism for CoCl2bpy2 catalyzed Negishi-type cross-coupling describing a full catalytic cycle for this reaction using multiple spectroscopic studies.

Methods for deuterium labelling of C–H bonds under mild conditions are sought after. Now an electrocatalytic method for H/D exchange via a radical-mediated pathway is described, using a boron cluster as a radical shuttle during the coupling process of deuterium and carbon radicals.

A heterogeneous nickel-catalysed deuteration reaction of benzylic C(sp³)–H bonds in alkylarenes and methylarenes using D₂O is developed. Such metal–H₂–D₂O systems could be extended to other catalytic reactions for the preparation of deuterium-labelled compounds in the future.

Transition metal-catalyzed regioselective difunctionalizations of alkenes with two different functional groups are useful for preparing organic compounds, but the construction of two new C–C bonds is challenging. Here, the authors report cobalt-catalyzed regioselective difluoroalkylarylation of alkenes with solid arylzinc pivalates and difluoroalkyl bromides, through a cascade Csp³ ‒Csp³/Csp³ ‒Csp² bond formation.

Anodic C(sp³)–H bond oxidative functionalization that involve C(sp³)–M, a C(sp³) radical or a C(sp³) cation intermediate with hydrogen evolution can be achieved by direct and indirect electrolysis. This Review discusses both strategies, and gives examples of the electrochemical methods developed for such functionalization reactions.