Themed collection 2024 Pioneering Investigators

This highlight discusses state-of-the-art mechanism-based modeling and machine-learning approaches in cell-free synthetic biology and their potential for designing and optimizing novel genetic circuits.

In this review, the state-of-the-art advances in radical-involved C(sp³)–N bond formation via metallaphotoredox catalysis have been highlighted, which are organized according to different catalytic modes, reaction types, and substrate classes.

New discoveries on polymer and polyelectrolyte brush systems and the corresponding brush-supported ions and water, arising from employing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, have been thoroughly reviewed.

This review has examined the advancements and challenges in the development of transition metal-based electrocatalysts for the alkaline water splitting reaction in the last decade.

This article highlights the recent advances and significance of β-alkylation reactions towards the synthesis of higher order alcohols.

Solution plasma-Co(OH)₂ interaction significantly boosts nitrogen fixation and achieves a high concentration of NO_x⁻ at 9.42 mmol L⁻¹.

We report a new donor-free bismuthenium cation and its use as an efficient catalyst for the cyanosilylation of ketones.

Quinoline-based tetrazolium cations undergo intracellular reduction/activation to release formazan chelators, which cause iron deprivation and apoptosis at submicromolar concentrations in cancer cells.

Integrating photochromic boron unit into peptide-gelators endows the supramolecular gels with photoactive functionality while preserving stability.

Cyclic thermo-ellipsometry enables exploration of the effects of temperature variation rates on vapor physisorption in MOFs, a key insight for many adsorption-driven applications.

In this study, we present the first total synthesis of (−)-securingine G.

The effect of Ga ion incorporation into silver indium gallium sulfide nanocrystals on the structure and optical properties is reported.

Taking advantage of the weak Au(III)–F bond, fluoride abstraction from a bis-fluorido Au(III) cation in MeCN furnishes a bis-acetonitrile complex representing the most electron poor Au(III) coordination complex known.

Ferroelectric topological insulator electrolytes hold potential in energy applications, particularly in creating efficient batteries. Their combination of ferroelectric and topological insulator properties reduces energy dissipation and enhances operational efficiency.

Host–guest interaction of cucurbit[7]uril is used to adjust the reactivity of ketyl radicals and benzoyl radicals, therefore enhancing the aldehyde selectivity of photo-induced oxidation of benzyl alcohol.

A conditional CRISPR/Cpf1 editing system that operates through light-induced activation and chemical reduction-responsive deactivation was reported.

Three-dimensional ordered macroporous perovskite oxide catalysts with different iron-manganese ratios were prepared by a hard template method for NO oxidation.

Second row elements in small- and medium-rings modulate strain.

We report an approach for soft-template encapsulation of PCMs via organocatalyzed photoredox ATRP using silica surfactants with surface-immobilized initiators.

Air oxidation of carbon supports was demonstrated to be capable of enhancing the proton and oxygen transport efficiency in the cathode catalyst layer to improve low-humidity fuel cell performance.

Divergent synthesis of multi-substituted phenanthrenes based on an internal redox reaction/ring expansion sequence was achieved.

In this work, a Co₂P/TD-50 catalyst was synthesized and applied to ultrafast degradation of various organics. ¹O₂ was demonstrated to be the dominant ROS for phenol degradation and a continuous-flow operation for phenol degradation was realized.

A bis(yldiide) mercury complex [Hg{C(PPh₃)(SPPh₂)}₂] has been isolated and used as a mild transmetalation reagent to form the first substituted actinide yldiide complexes, which exhibit highly polar metal carbon interactions.

By using different salts as a method to achieve gelation of two different amino-acid-functionalised perylene bisimides, we were able to tune reduction potentials while maintaining the mechanical and optical properties of the system all at pH 7.4.

π-Conjugated pyrene–thiophene-based room-temperature discotic liquid crystals showing temperature-dependent hole mobility measured using the time-of-flight technique.

We report the synthesis of two-dimensional and three-dimensional porous polyphenylenes (2D/3D-pPPs) via the Diels–Alder cycloaddition polymerization reaction.

We reported acid–base functionalized rotaxanes featuring two chiral subunits. The mechanical bond leads to increased reaction rates and also to strongly altered enantioselectivites in comparison to the non-interlocked control catalysts.

A stepwise synthetic strategy that utilizes both coordination linkages and dynamic covalent linkages provides a highly-conjugated framework with cyclic tri-silver clusters.

First application of dynamic combinatorial chemistry to the whole complex of the energy-coupling factor transporter PanT from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic CO₂ reduction by a heterobimetallic Cu/Fe–Mabiq complex were examined and compared to the monometallic [Fe(Mabiq)]⁺.