A series of sphere-rod shape amphiphiles were designed and synthesized by connecting the rod-like oligofluorenes with different lengths (OFn) to the different positions of the spherical [60]fullerene (C60) through a rigid linkage. The conjugates were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FTIR, EA and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The optical and electronic properties of the conjugates were studied by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrometry, and cyclic voltammetry. The results from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry indicated that the energy profiles of C60 and OFn remained unchanged when different lengths of OFn were attached to C60. The electron affinities of the OFn-C60 conjugates were close to that of C60, while slight electronic interaction was found between the two individual chromophores (C60 and OFn) in their ground states. The fluorescence spectra exhibited a complete fluorescence quenching in the toluene solution, suggesting an effective energy transfer from OFn to C60. It presents a systematic study on the self-assembly, structure-property relationship, and potential technical applications of the conjugates.

The dimetallic [M2(bpy)2(NO3)2](NO3)2 moieties (M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)) react preferentially at the pyrazolyl end of the pyridyl-pyrazole ligand, giving rise to dimetallic corners. Subsequently, the dimetallic corner building blocks featuring two pyridine donors are coordinated by monometallic [M(bpy)(NO3)2] moieties (M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)) to form homo- or hetero-metallomacrocycles.

The anion coordination complex, [Cl⊂Pt(bpt)4]Cl (bpt=N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-2-thiourea), was synthesized and studied by X-ray crystal structure analysis, NMR and FAB mass spectra. In the solid state, the Pt(bpt)4 anion receptor adopts a cone conformation to bind the chloride anion through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction in which the four branches of the thiourea ligands bind the chloride anion to form N-H⋯Cl− hydrogen bonds (3.49–3.81 Å). The entraped chloride anion is situated above the Pt(II) center at 3.52 Å. Further second-sphere coordination assemby from the Pt(bpt)4 core with 8 zinc(II) tetraphenylporphyrins (ZnPr) is discussed.

Poly(acrylamide) (PAM) with controlled molecular weight and tacticity was prepared by UV-irradiation-initiated controlled/living radical polymerization in the presence of dibenzyl trithiocarbonate (DBTTC) and Y(OTf)3. The rapid and facile photo-initiated controlled/living polymerization at ambient temperature led to controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity (Mw/Mn = 1.12–1.24) of PAM. The coordination of Y(OTf)3 with the last two amide groups in the growing chain radical effectively enhanced isotacticity of PAM. The isotactic sequence of dyads (m), triads (mm) and pentads (mmmm) in PAM were 70.32%, 50.95%, and 29.97%, respectively, which were determined by the resonance of methine (CH) groups in PAM under 13C NMR experiment. Factors affecting stereocontrol during the polymerization were studied, including the type of Lewis acids, concentration of Y(OTf)3, and monomer conversion. It is intriguing that the meso tacticity increased gradually with chain propagation and quite higher isotacticity (m = 93.01%, mm = 86.57%) was obtained in the later polymerization stage (conversion 65–85%).

The dimetallic [M2(bpy)2(NO3)2](NO3)2 moieties (M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)) react preferentially at the pyrazolyl end of the pyridyl-pyrazole ligand, giving rise to dimetallic corners. Subsequently, the dimetallic corner building blocks featuring two pyridine donors are coordinated by monometallic [M(bpy)(NO3)2] moieties (M = Pd(II) or Pt(II)) to form homo- or hetero-metallomacrocycles.