Polarity inversion through 1,4-addition of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to conjugate acceptors was first reported in 2006 and has subsequently evolved as an active subfield of NHC-organocatalysis. In this review, this emerging area of NHC-organocatalysis is discussed with comprehensive coverage.

A new two-dimensional Co^II-containing coordination polymer has been prepared using a light-harvesting triphenylamine type organic ligand, which could be applied for the degradation of organic dyes assisted by H₂O₂. In addition, the anti-osteoporosis activity of this complex has been studied both experimentally and computationally.

Three coordination polymers ([Ln(cbb)(Hcbb)(DMF)·H₂O]_n [Ln = Sm (1), Eu (2), Tb (3)] have been synthesised based on 2-(4-carboxybenzyloxy) benzoic acid and the fluorescence properties have been investigated in detail.

This work presents a 2D Pb^II-based coordination polymer as a sensitive turn-off fluorescent switch for Fe³⁺, Cr₂O₇²⁻, and NFT.

The insertion of CO₂ into epoxides and aziridines have been studied using B3LYP and MP2 methods, and the effect of substitution for the two reactions are further explored. Mechanistic details of the reactions of CO₂ with epoxides and aziridines can provide meaningful information for the reutilisation of CO₂.

Structural and solution studies of a copper(ii) 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy)–thiosulfate system illustrate a thermally induced, controllable switching between metal oxidation states, which in turn inhibits the oxidation of thiosulfate.

A new series of Cu^II, Ni^II, Co^II, and Mn^III complexes have been synthesised from the (6Z)-6-(7-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-diazepin-5-ylidene)cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one (HDZP) ligand. These complexes were characterised by elemental, spectroscopic (IR and UV-vis), and thermal analysis. The crystal structure of Cu-DZP was solved by X-ray diffraction methods.

The oxidovandium(iv) complexes of 3,5-dinitrohydoxamate have been synthesised and characterised. A distorted square pyramidal geometry has been tentatively proposed around the vanadium. Complex 1 showed more antimicrobial and antioxidant activity than 2 and the free ligand.