Fluoropolymer P(VDF-CTFE) membranes prepared by solution casting with tetrahydrofuran (THF) were radiated by a low gamma radiation dose without any other reagents, which introduced C=C bonds into the polymeric chains and resulted in a change of membrane colour and mechanical properties.

A stimuli responsive chemosensor S based on imidazophenazine was synthesised. It displayed colourimetric–fluorescence dual channel detection properties for CN^– based on an obvious change of colour and fluorescence. The fluorescence responding cycle could be repeated three times by the sequential addition of CN^– and CH₃COO^– or CN^– and HSO₄^–.

A novel β-cyclodextrin based azo functionalized Schiff base with high aqueous solubility was synthesized. It induced high aqueous solubility in its Co^II and Cu^II complexes. These complexes with enhanced bio-availability showed good DNA binding and DNA cleavage activities.

Long-chained pyridinium N-chloramines were synthesised by covalent linking N-Cl unit and alkyl chain via alkylation of 3-hydroxypyridine. Compared with previous pyridinium N-chloramine that lacks intact alkyl chains, the current long-chained N-chloramines exerted distinctively elevated biocidal efficacy, probably resulting from ‘synergistic’ biocidal action between N-Cl moiety and the long-chained pyridinium moiety.

A Cd²⁺ based coordination polymer material featuring 3D network was synthesized by a facile stirring method for water-mediated proton conduction.

In-cell solid-state NMR is a potential technique to probe site-specific structural arrangements of membrane proteins in the native cellular environment. The benefits of this technique are increased sensitivity and prolonged cell lifetime, which allow the determination of complex membrane proteins within a time frame suitable for cell survival.

4-(Dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) is a common catalyst in organic synthesis, able to promote different types of reactions with an emphasis on heterocycle synthesis, multicomponent reactions (MCRs), esterification reactions, cycloadditions, and even stereoselective reactions. In this focus article, some recent and relevant uses of this catalyst have been selected to demonstrate its importance and versatility in organic chemistry.