Electron transfer is a fundamental process that can induce a rich variety of chemical transformations through different mechanisms. On one hand, by adding or removing equivalent electrons, redox reactions can achieve changes in molecular valence states and the conversion of organic functional groups. On the other hand, the addition or removal of catalytic amounts of electrons to form transient free radical intermediates can also significantly influence the rate and selectivity of some redox-neutral reactions. The latter is collectively referred to as “electron/hole catalysis,” with the reduction-induced process called electron catalysis, and the oxidation-induced process called hole catalysis.

With the resurgence of free radical reactions and the continuous advancements in photochemistry and electrochemistry, the principles of electron/hole catalysis have received increasing attention. particularly in recent years, this catalytic paradigm has not only significantly promoted the development of organic chemistry but has also shown considerable potential in other fields such as photoresponsive systems, supramolecular assembly, and polymer synthesis. In view of this, we hope to develop diverse electron transfer methods, attempting to use various means such as chemical redox reagents, electric current, light, and mechanical force to achieve electron/hole catalysis under mild conditions, thereby facilitating the formation of covalent bonds in organic synthesis processes or the formation of non-covalent bonds in supramolecular assembly processes. Based on this, by finely tuning the dynamics of electron transfer, we aim to explore the unique applications of electron/hole catalysis in molecular switches, molecular machines, and self-assembling materials.