New kinds of diradical rare-earth metal complexes supported by diazabutadiene (DAD) ligands, [(DAD)2LnN­(TMS)2] (1; Ln = Dy, Lu; TMS = SiMe3), were synthesized and studied. They showed a new [radical–Ln–radical] alignment with distorted square-pyramidal geometry. Structural and density functional theory analysis illustrated the radical anionic nature of the ligands. Magnetic studies revealed antiferromagnetic coupling of the two radicals in 1-Lu. 1-Dy showed typical single-molecule-magnet (SMM) behavior with an effective energy barrier of 231 K, which is much higher than those of similar radical-containing SMMs. Magnetostructural analysis suggests that the anionic [N­(TMS)2]− group plays a vital role in the SMM property. This study provides a new platform for further improving the performance of radical–Ln SMMs.

CuOTf-catalyzed substituent-controlled cascade [2 + 2 + 2] and [4 + 2] annulation reactions among heterocumulenes, alkynes, and diaryliodonium salts were achieved. Various quinoline derivatives could be obtained in good yields with excellent selectivity. This methodology provided a novel pathway to activate heterocumulenes via a unique highly reactive cationic intermediate. The reaction process was well elucidated by density functional theory calculations.

The Zn(OTf)2 -catalyzed guanylation/amidation from readily available amino acid esters and carbodiimides is achieved to provide efficiently various cyclic oxoguanidines, including 2-amino-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-ones and 2-aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones in medium-to-high yields. It is the first time that an ammonium salt has been used in a guanylation reaction. The application of cyclic oxoguanidines to provide the conjugated heterocyclic compounds via oxidative C-N formation or aldol reaction is explored. The reaction mechanism is well elucidated by the isolation and characterization of three important intermediates.