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Covalent polymerization of organic molecules into crystalline one‐dimensional (1D) polymers is effective for achieving desired thermal, optical, and electrical properties, yet it remains a persistent synthetic challenge for their inherent tendency to adopt amorphous or semicrystalline phases. Here we report a strategy to synthesize crystalline 1D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) composing quasi‐conjugated chains with benzoxazine linkages via the one‐pot Mannich reaction. Through [4+2] and [2+2] type Mannich condensation reactions, we fabricated stoichiometric and sub‐stoichiometric 1D covalent polymeric chains, respectively, using doubly and singly linked benzoxazine rings. The validity of their crystal structures has been directly visualized through state‐of‐the‐art cryogenic low‐dose electron microscopy techniques. Post‐synthetic functionalizations of them with a chiral MacMillan catalyst produce crystalline organic photocatalysts that demonstrated excellent catalytic and recyclable performance in light‐driven asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes, affording up to 94 % enantiomeric excess [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent an important class of crystalline porous materials with designable structures and functions. The interconnected organic monomers, featuring pre-designed symmetries and connectivities, dictate the structures of COFs, endowing them with high thermal and chemical stability, large surface area, and tunable micropores. Furthermore, by utilizing pre-functionalization or post-synthetic functionalization strategies, COFs can acquire multifunctionalities, leading to their versatile applications in gas separation/storage, catalysis, and optoelectronic devices. Our review provides a comprehensive account of the latest advancements in the principles, methods, and techniques for structural design and determination of COFs. These cutting-edge approaches enable the rational design and precise elucidation of COF structures, addressing fundamental physicochemical challenges associated with host–guest interactions, topological transformations, network interpenetration, and defect-mediated catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural diversity of three-dimensional (3D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are limited as there are only a few choices of building units with multiple symmetrically distributed connection sites. To date, 4 and 6-connected stereoscopic nodes with T d , D 3h , D 3d and C 3 symmetries have been mostly reported, delivering limited 3D topologies. We propose an efficient approach to expand the 3D COF repertoire by introducing a high-valency quadrangular prism (D 4h ) stereoscopic node with a connectivity of eight, based on which two isoreticular 3D imine-linked COFs can be created. Low-dose electron microscopy allows the direct visualization of their 2-fold interpenetrated bcu networks. These 3D COFs are endowed with unique pore architectures and strong molecular binding sites, and exhibit excellent performance in separating C 2 H 2 /CO 2 and C 2 H 2 /CH 4 gas pairs. The introduction of high-valency stereoscopic nodes would lead to an outburst of new topologies for 3D COFs., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Direct observation of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of molecules adsorbed on nano-sized zirconia (ZrO 2 ) substrates was first reported without the need for the addition of metal particles. It was found that ZrO 2 nanoparticles can exhibit unprecedented Raman signal enhancements on the order of 10 3 for the probe molecule 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA). The dramatic effect of the calcination temperature on the ZrO 2 nanoparticles was also investigated. The ZrO 2 nanoparticles with the particle diameter of 10.5 nm, which were prepared by calcination at a temperature of 500°C, have the highest SERS activity. A comparison between the experimental and calculation results indicates that charge transfer (CT) effects dominate the surface enhancement. The plentiful surface state of ZrO 2 active substrate that is beneficial to CT resonance occurs between molecules and ZrO 2 to produce a SERS effect. The CT process depends, to a large extent, on the intrinsic properties of the modifying molecules and the surface properties of the ZrO 2 . This is a new SERS phenomenon for ZrO 2 that will expand the application of ZrO 2 to microanalysis and is beneficial for studying the basic properties of both ZrO 2 and SERS.