The 20th Anniversary Commemorative Issue of the Taiwan‐Japan Bilateral Symposium on the Architecture of Functional Organic Molecules

Recent advancements in organic materials research reveal remarkable diversity in both chemical structures and functional applications. Organic materials have expanded far beyond classical small molecules and polymers, evolving into highly engineered systems with tailored optoelectronic, mechanical, and biological properties. The construction of functional devices is fundamentally rooted in the principles of molecular architecture. However, synthesizing molecular components often presents significant challenges. These include the need for precise control over multiple functional sites, reliance on template-directed strategies, reactions under highly dilute conditions, and the manipulation of poorly soluble intermediates or products. Overcoming these synthetic complexities is critical to advancing molecular electronics technology. In order to advance domestic chemical research and promote international exchange, the "Taiwan-Japan Bilateral Symposium on the Architecture of Functional Organic Molecules" was organized. The program was co-initiated by Professor Tahsin J. Chow of Academia Sinica in Taiwan and Professor Teruo Shinmyozu of Kyushu University in Japan. The founding members included renowned professors from both Taiwan and Japan. To ensure effective implementation of the project and maintain close collaboration among the subprojects, annual meetings were arranged. As the research environment evolved, the topics of discussion broadened significantly over the years. Although the program initially focused on organic chemistry, its scope has since expanded to other areas, including organometallic chemistry, inorganic catalysis, and biochemistry. The number of participants has also grown, and the symposium venues have extended to include more universities—such as National Taiwan University, National Chung Cheng University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Tunghai University, and Tamkang University in Taiwan, as well as Kyushu University, Kyoto University, and Hiroshima University in Japan. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of this symposium, Professor Jye-Shane Yang, Editor-in-Chief of JCCS and one of the original initiators of the event, proposed inviting past speakers to contribute their latest research findings for a special issue of the Journal. Sixteen symposium lecturers accepted this invitation, showcasing their most recent advances. The topics span diverse areas of organic materials, including synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, optical activity, photophysical studies, supramolecular interactions, and photoelectronic devices. Chirality, constructed around a tetrahedral carbon center, is a fundamental feature of organic compounds. To emphasize its significance in materials research, Professor Satoru Hiroto reports the unsymmetric synthesis of azahelicenes through oxidative dehydrogenation of N-bridged π-conjugated molecules; Professor Fumito Tani presents the synthesis and redox properties of a chiral heterohelicene; and Professor Takeharu Haino investigates the crystal structures of brucine complexes with chiral biphenyl derivatives. With a focus on the spectral properties of organic materials, Professor Hideki Okamoto investigates the spectral behavior of ethynyl-substituted picenes, Professor Masatoshi Ishida discusses the near-infrared dye characteristics of Pd complexes of doubly N-confused hexaphyrins, and Professor Jye-Shane Yang demonstrates strategies for tuning the fluorescence window of nitro-substituted triphenylamines. Supramolecular organic frameworks represent another emerging field in organic materials. Professor Chien-Lung Wang reports on the design of extrinsic porosity in supramolecular organic frameworks, while Professor Yi-Tsu Chan describes the self-assembly of heterobimetallic lantern-shaped cages constructed from benzofuran-derived pyridine and terpyridine ligands. Professor Shih-Sheng Sun presents research on the self-organization of a C3-symmetric organogelator. Aromatic compounds such as naphthalene and anthracene derivatives exhibit remarkable photophysical properties, making them valuable for the design of photoelectronic devices. Professor Minoru Yamaji analyzed the solid-state photoluminescence of naphthalene derivatives, Professor Manabu Abe examined the photophysical properties of 2,6-diphenyl-substituted naphthalene derivatives, Professor Chih-Hsin Chen investigated deep-red carbazole–furanonitrile emitters with aggregation-induced emission, and Professor Tahsin J. Chow explored upconverted emission based on triplet–triplet annihilation. Progress in light-harvesting devices is also featured in this special issue. Professor Yuan Jay Chang provides a review of various carbon materials in halide perovskite solar cells, Professor Yen-Ju Cheng reports on side-chain engineering of benzimidazole-incorporated acceptors for solar cells and field-effect transistors, and Professor Motonori Watanabe discusses the anchor effect in photocatalytic water splitting using boron dipyrromethene-sensitized dyes. Through this special issue, we present the latest advances in organic materials and thank the authors for sharing their most recent research findings. This series of symposia has facilitated rich academic exchanges among researchers in the field of organic materials. We look forward to the continued development of these exchanges, leading to further breakthroughs across a broad range of areas.