•Organoplatinum metallacycles containing azobenzene groups were prepared by coordination-driven self-assembly.•Square and triangular organoplatinum metallacycles were obtained through changing the flexibility of ligands.•The reversible photoisomerization of triangular metallacycle 2 could be controlled by alternating UV/Vis light irradiation.Square and triangular organoplatinum metallacycles have been successfully prepared by the reaction of cis-Pt(PEt3)2(OTf)2 and bis(4-pyridyl)-functionalized azo ligands via coordination-driven self-assembly. These metallacycles were isolated in good yields and were characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H and 31P), ESI-TOF-MS and UV–vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, trans-cis photoisomerization of triangular metallacycle 2 was reversibly controlled by alternating UV/Vis light irradiation.

We report the efficient preparation of an A2D2 (A = acceptor and D = donor) metallacycle 2 = [(en)2Pd2(1)2](NO3)4, using the coordination driven self-assembly of trans-azobenzene based bispyridyl ligand 1 and (en)Pd(NO3)2 (en = ethylenediamine). In the metallacycle, the trans-azobenzene units serve both as a structural element and as sites for subsequent host–guest chemistry with β-cyclodextrin, leading to the formation of a [2] catenane 3. This catenation process is reversible and can be switched off and on in a photocontrollable manner via the trans–cis isomerization of the azobenzene units.

One-step synthesis of several α,ω pinacol boronates starting from m-dibromobenzene derivative and bis(pinacolato)diboron through Miyaura reaction has been reported. The present approach provided low to moderate yields of monomer boronates, and trace to low yields of dimmer, trimer and tetramer boronates. Furthermore, the resulted boronates can be followed by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling without purification, which enhances the practical usefulness of this method.One-step synthesis of monomer, dimmer, trimer, and tetramer boronates through Miyaura reaction in a moderate yields has been reported. Furthermore, the boronates can be followed by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling without purification.

Two oxime-based colorimetric probes for the hypochlorite anion (ClO−) have been rationally designed and synthesized on basis of the mechanism of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). Upon addition of ClO−, the probes displayed around 20 nm redshift in the absorption maximum, accompanied with the color change from orange to pink, which were attributed to the reaction of the oxime groups with ClO− to form aldehyde groups. The probes were highly selective for ClO− detection without the interference of other ions and oxidants.

The complex CuQ2 (HQ = 8-hydroxy-7-(4-tolyldiazenyl)quinoline-5-sulfonic acid) has been synthesized and used as a colorimetric probe for the specific detection of cysteine and homocysteine in water through a displacement reaction. The detection can be performed either by the spectroscopy from the increased UV–vis absorbance at 498 nm or by the change of color from yellow to red upon addition of cysteine or homocysteine to the solution of the complex. The experimental results show no interference by other amino acids to the detection of cysteine and homocysteine.A Cu2+ complex CuQ2 has been synthesized and used as a colorimetric probe for the detection of cysteine and homocysteine in water through a displacement reaction. The experimental results suggest no interference by other amino acids to the detection of cysteine and homocysteine.

Two novel tridentate Pt(NˆCˆN)Cl complexes, 1a and 2a, with an electron-deficient pyrimidine-contained NˆCˆN tridentate ligand, were synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of 1a revealed a cyclometallated square-planar geometry. In the single crystal, 1a adopted a head-to-head dimeric form with the shortest Pt⋯Pt distance of 4.22 Å and π–π stacking affording one-dimensional nanostructure along a-axial direction. Interestingly, in contrast to 1a, Pt⋯Pt interaction of 2a, with a flexible alkyl chain substituent, could be induced by facile solution processable self-assembly, allowing for modulation of luminescence from visible to near-IR (NIR) region.