Heterohelicenes are of increasing importance in the fields of materials science, molecular recognition, and asymmetric catalysis. However, enantioselective construction of these molecules, especially by organocatalytic methods, is challenging, and few methods are available. In this study, we synthesize enantioenriched 1-(3-indol)-quino[n]helicenes through chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed Povarov reaction followed by oxidative aromatization. The method has a broad substrate scope and offers rapid access to an array of chiral quinohelicenes with enantioselectivities up to 99%. Additionally, the photochemical and electrochemical properties of selected quinohelicenes are explored.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially toluene as the typical indoor air pollutants, are toxic and environmentally persistent whose removal is undoubtedly becoming increasingly urgent matter over these years. Titania is one of the most promising photocatalysts for the degradation of organic compounds, whereas the large band gap of titania and massive recombination of photogenerated charge carriers limit its overall photocatalytic effciency. These defects can be tackled by modifying the electronic band structure of titania including various strategies like metal deposition, non-metal atoms substitution, transition metal ions doping, and coupling with a narrow band gap semiconductor, etc. This review encompasses several advancements made in these aspects, and also the influence factors such as physical morphologies changing, humidity, as well as the presence of O2 etc, are involved. To be practically considering, TiO2 photocatalysts require being fixed on the bulky supports like silica, alumina, clays and activated carbons. Moreover, photocatalytic coatings deposited on external building materials, like roofing tiles and corrugated sheets, is becoming the attractive application potentials to remove toluene from air.

Engineering rock mass is a highly complex grey system, it is impossible to get all the parameters of rock mass by theoretical methods or field measurement approach. Underground engineering feedback analysis method is a reliable way to improve the design, optimization and construction. Based on the field data of underground cavern of a large-scale hydro-power station, the three-dimensional finite element model is established, and orthogonal experimental design and multi-objective optimization method are used for the rapid back analysis. This method could be used for obtaining the rock parameters by inversion calculating in the underground cavern construction of a large-scale hydro-power station. Meanwhile, the inversion parameters could also be applied in the excavation simulation for the next phase and the rock deformation and stability is predicted afterwards. The design and construction sectors are supposed to get its feedback in time, which effectively guarantees the stability of the surrounding rocks.

Heterohelicenes are of increasing importance to the field of material science, molecular recognition, and asymmetric catalysis. However, the enantioselective construction of heterohelicenes, especially by organocatalytic method, remains rare and challenging. Herein, enantioenriched 1-(3-indol)-quino[5]helicenes have been synthesized through chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed Povarov reaction, followed by an oxidative central-to-helical chirality conversion process. The reaction has a broad scope and offers rapid access to an array of chiral quinohelicene derivatives with pretty enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Furthermore, optical properties of the studied quinohelicenes have been disclosed.