Themed collection Celebrating 10 years of ChemComm Emerging Investigators

This article reviews the strategies available to achieve the umpolung of diazocompounds and the synthetic applications of such compounds.

An overview of the strategies developed in our research to create graphene-based electrodes with better ionic conductivity, electron mobility, specific surface area, mechanical properties, and device performance than state-of-the-art electrodes.

Design strategies and applications of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) showing charge transfer properties are discussed.

In this paper we critically analyse the toxicity of halloysite decorated with photoactive nanoparticles on prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and fabrication of photoactive halloysite-based materials to tackle the microbial resistance to antibiotics.

Syntheses of cycloparaphenylenes utilizing the [2+2+2] cycloaddition have been highlighted and categorized according to the function of this key reaction.

Mannose patterning is introduced into benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA)-based supramolecular assemblies through copolymerization of fully mannosylated M3 BTA with non-functionalized nBTA, and compared to their asymmetric homopolymer counterparts (M1 and M2 BTA).

Mimetics of a quorum sensing signal inhibit agr-type QS in S. aureus. These compounds include the most potent peptidomimetic-based QS inhibitor reported in S. aureus, remain active when tagged with a fluorescent label, and block agr in all four specificity groups.

Small molecule-based cross-catalytic system that operates using principles of organocatalysis.

A convenient method to detect peptide:N-glycanase activity was developed using engineered split inteins in which the N-intein sequences contain N,N′-diacetylchitobiose.

The synthesis of benzo[b]oxepines is achieved through an innovative cyclopropanation and ring expansion sequence with benzopyrylium triflates and sulfoxonium ylides.

Redox-assisted Disulfide Direct Conjugation (RDDC) allows for disulfide functionalization under mild aqueous conditions without prior reduction.

Phosphorylation of GSDMD inhibits pyroptosis by regulating the oligomerization of cleaved GSDMD_NT in the process of forming pores in cell membrane to induce cell death. Protein phosphatase 1 regulates dephosphorylation of GSDMD and pyroptosis.

Two promising copper phosphides with large thermoelectric power factors are reported.

The solvent dependent synthesis of single crystals of metal–organic frameworks via the formation of metal–organic gels at high temperature was demonstrated. These results highlight the new methodology to obtain the crystalline MOFs.

Development of metal halide perovskite photocatalysts that can efficiently perform selective organic oxidations in combination with H₂ evolution at mild conditions.

Hydrocarbon-acid site interactions in heterogeneous catalysts probed using a combination of inelastic neutron scattering and computational methods, providing new insights for catalytic reaction pathways.

The crystal size plays a decisive role in the kinetics of guest-induced breathing of MIL-53(Al), showing orders of magnitude rate difference.

Stable macro- and microscopic ferroelectricity with saturation polarization ∼3.2 μC cm⁻² and Curie point ∼304 K is observed in H-bonded alternating supramolecular copolymer of amide-functionalized pyrene donor and naphthalene-diimide acceptor.

Soluble hydrogenase enables atom efficient, H₂-driven, recycling of synthetic nicotinamide cofactors.

In this work, we present the ultra-sensitive detection of acetylcholine (Ach) using enzymatic nanofluidic biosensors in which the ionic signal is generated via local chemical amplification of enzymatic processes.

Near-infrared-emitting cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes bearing a heteroaromatic methylsulfone moiety were designed as sulfhydryl-specific reagents to target cysteine-containing biomolecules for bioimaging and photocytotoxic applications.

A bimetallic complex containing a 4′-ferrocenyl-(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine)palladium core with polyethylene glycol-based pyridine is applied in seeded-growth supramolecular polymerization, which affords nanoribbons with controllable dimensions.

Lysine-modified graphene oxide is synthesized and exploited as an adsorbent of emerging contaminants in drinking water.

Low-valent uranium(III) primary phosphido complexes supported by hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp*) were synthesized with phosphines of varying steric and electronic profiles.

In our work we develop a base-driven ligand stripping method for metal oxide nanocrystals, replacing oleate ligands with hydroxyls to create an aqueous dispersion. We generalize this method across a range of material compositions, particle sizes, and particle shapes to get stable dispersions.

Self-assembly pathways of barbituric acid dyes can be dramatically changed by partial O-to-S substitution for a critical CO group of the hydrogen-bonding barbituric acid group.

Stabilization of microtubules was achieved in vitro and in living cells by photo-crosslinking of a Tau-derived peptide using a photo-reactive diazirine group.

Nitrogen-centered radicals are an important way to build C–N bonds. Herein, the synthesis of 6- and 7-membered rings, which are really scarce in the literature, through visible light irradiation using a photoredox strategy was achieved.

The intrinsic photochemistry of the isoxazole, a common heterocycle in medicinal chemistry, can offer an alternative to existing strategies using more perturbing, extrinsic photo-crosslinkers.

We study OH(Σ) + H₂ → H₂O(X) + H reactive scattering using two potential energy models found in the literature.

An efficient and general process is reported for the room temperature photoinduced, copper-catalysed direct perfluoroalkylation of a broad range of heteroarenes with commercially available perfluoroalkyl iodides.

We report an efficient method to install electrophilic cysteine-selective ethynyl-phosphonamidates on peptides during Fmoc-based solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS).

Cu₂O nanocubes were wrapped with an extremely uniform layer through self-controlled growth on their surface, improving their CO₂ reduction selectivity.

By harnessing an energy transfer process, new photocatalyzed [2 + 2]-cycloadditions occurring between γ-alkylidene–γ-lactams and unsaturated substrates have been developed.

A pre-targeting approach to preserve the stealth surface chemistry of PEGylated nanomedicines during circulation is demonstrated.

A water-soluble cobalt phthalocyanine complex with sulfonate groups (CoPcTS) serves as an effective homogenous catalyst for photochemical water oxidation using a [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺/S₂O₈²⁻ photosystem.

Phenylalanine is demonstrated to inhibit ice recrystallisation at low mM concentrations. Sequential modifications demonstrate the importance of amphiphilicity on activity.

PBPM³LG: A glutamate-based alignment medium with atropisomeric biphenyl sidechains induces different alignments in the LLC phase, allowing the extraction of multiple sets of linearly independent RDCs.

We report the synthesis and characterization of an uncommon five-coordinate Ni(I) complex supported by 1,4,7-triisopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane.

Photoactivation mechanism of triosmium dodecacarbonyl is elucidated via time-resolved X-ray liquidography, identifying two pathways, vibrational relaxation and ligand dissociation.

Fatty acids alter zinc speciation in plasma, increasing zinc influx into endothelial cells.

An organocatalytic asymmetric reduction of in situ formed para-quinone methides has been developed for the synthesis of enantioenriched triarylmethanes.

Highly sensitive detection of NH₃ and NO₂ in gas is achieved by monolayer films that consist of functionalized and unfunctionalized hexabenzoperylenes in a single homogeneous phase.

Via a generally applicable method, we interpolate ab initio calculations of intermolecular interactions and produce successful first-principles predictions.

A photo-crosslinkable polyurethane–gelatin methacryloyl was tuned to accommodate elasticity, printability, and biocompatibility. Extrusion-printed 3D-constructs resembled the vascular networks for the proliferation of endothelial cells.

The isothiourea-catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of 2-hydroxybenzophenone imine derivatives to α,β-unsaturated esters gives β-imino esters with up to 97 : 3 er.

A conjugate vaccine comprising a mycobacterial peptide antigen from the 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT6) and a macrophage inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) signalling trehalose dibehenate (TDB) glycolipid adjuvant is described.

Electroporation combined with native liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry allows analysis of intact protein assemblies directly from bacterial colonies.

Thermolysis of [Cp₃Th(3,3-diphenylcyclopropenyl)] results in isomerization to the ring-opened product, [Cp₃Th(3-phenyl-1H-inden-1-yl)] via a transient carbene intermediate.

Two novel thiophene-based donor–acceptor molecules TDA-1 and TDA-2 are synthesized through Aldol and Knoevenagel condensations, and used as cathode materials in aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors.

Membrane localization of each component strengthens NOD2–MDP–Arf6 binding, demonstrating importance of membrane targeting for future NOD2 agonist design.

Neutral zinc complexes supported by H[PNNO], a diaminophenolate ligand bearing a pendant phosphine group, were synthesized and characterized.

Reported herein is a rare example of asymmetric catalytic functionalisation of enals at the remote γ-position, proceeding via a radical path.

We report an organocatalytic trans hydroboration of 3-substituted-propiolonitriles. The reaction proceeds through a 1,2-phosphine addition instead of a canonical 1,4-conjugate addition pathway.

[Cr(N^N^N)₂]PF₆ complexes that incorporate both pyridyl and isoindoline donors possess physical properties that lead to the observation of near-IR phosphorescence (928–949 nm) under aerated solvent conditions at room temperature.

Reducing the negative charges induced by the overexpression of cell surface sialic acids using cationic clickable labels leads to a reduction in cancer cell migration without affecting drug supceptibility.

Encapsulation of an Fe(III) tris-oxalate coordination complex inside an Fe(II) metallosupramolecular helicate drastically reduces the quantum coherence of the ferric S = 5/2 spin of this ion.

A sustainable hybrid aerogel based on β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril/UiO-66-NH₂ is developed for environmental remediation.

A perylene five-membered ring diimide was developed as a new electron-deficient building block for n-type semiconductors. The π-expanded conjugated molecules containing azulenes were synthesized from PDI39. These conjugated molecules show near-infrared absorption up to 810 nm.

Liposome cargo release triggered by IP₃ is achieved using a synthetic lipid switch designed to undergo conformational changes upon binding.

Side by side! An α-borylated phosphorus ylide can act as L- and Z-type ligand side by side. A detailed experimental and computational study provides evidence for a tuneable L/Z-ratio by varying the metal fragments and/or the boron substituents.

Facile synthetic alteration of the calix[4]arene methylene bridges provides access to a range of new molecules whilst preserving the characteristics of this extremely versatile host framework.

Four coordination polymers with similar 1D chain motifs exhibited different photosalient behaviors, which can be tuned via monomer preorganization.